Property

Gigantic new tower with 481 apartments gets the go-ahead in the Northern Quarter

The plans were initially rejected.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 28th July 2022

An enormous new tower has been approved for the Northern Quarter, and will be built on an ‘under-utilised’ car park.

There’ll be a whopping 481 new apartments in the new 33-storey development, which has been designed by SimpsonHaugh, the same architects behind Beetham Tower.

The huge tower on Port Street, just off Great Ancoats Street, will create ‘a better connection between the Northern Quarter, Ancoats and Piccadilly’.

Plans for the tower were initially rejected for being too tall, but the new approved proposal is for a slightly smaller structure, with one storey removed.

The Port Street tower plans. Credit: SImpsonHaugh

Local residents had also objected to the lack of affordable housing.

But Manchester City Council have now given the green light for Select Property’s Port Street development to go ahead.

When complete, the tower will have a mix of built-to-rent one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Facilities will include co-working spaces, a cinema room, a gym and lounge areas, as well as space for restaurants, cafes and bars.

Read more: University of Manchester ‘really sorry’ for earlier statement about student applicant’s death

Adam Price, CEO for Select Property said: “Select Property has developed an outstanding reputation for delivering some of the city’s best build to rent accommodation such as Embankment West home to Laurence Place and Exchange Point.

“Now, works can begin on Port Street, a site which was long overdue for significant investment and promises to deliver the very best apartments the city has to offer, creating a vibrant community.

“The plans will marry this desirable location with a superb product which responds to its surroundings, bringing together Piccadilly, Ancoats and The Northern Quarter.”

Featured image: Supplied

Property

No-phones nightclub Amber’s has announced it is relaunching its second room

Danny Jones Danny Jones Amber's nigthclub upgrading second room

Manchester’s famous no-phones nightclub, Amber’s, is preparing for a relaunch of its second room, just over half a year on from the venue’s opening week.

The smash hit, semi-censored space, which enforces a strictly no-device policy to ensure those in attendance maximise their amount of in-the-moment enjoyment without any risk of distraction, has just announced that they will be reworking ‘Room 2’.

Confirmed just in time for the rest of summer ‘season three’, where plenty of people will be opting to rave instead of splash their cash on Oasis and/or festival tickets, the soon-to-be-refreshed space will partner with audio specialists to provide an experience set to rival the main room.

Sharing a post featuring blueprints for the fixtures and some of the top-end equipment, new-look second room opens its doors early next month.

Writing on social media, the venue wrote: “Amber’s is proud to announce the relaunch of Room Two, featuring a brand new custom soundsystem designed by Norwegian pro-audio specialist NNNN and OJAS, and installed by Neuron Audio Visual.

“The collaboration between Amber’s and NNNN is the first time that the Oslo-based company, which specialises in innovating the future of audio, has created a speaker system for use in the UK. Amber’s will be the first venue in the country to house the state-of-the-art system.”

“The partnership furthers our commitment to world-class sound and creating a truly unique club space in the heart of Manchester. Room Two also now boasts a brand new lighting system and has received bespoke acoustic treatment.”

Reacting to the news, plenty of punters and artists alike are already stoked to see what they have in store; promoters ABB Events simply said, “We can’t wait to test this out 26 September.”

Speaking to The Manc, a regular visitor of Amber’s Manchester told us: “Room Two at Amber’s always felt a little forgotten – a space with potential, but lacking the same pull as the main room. With this new Soundsystem they’re putting in, it finally feels like it’s getting the love it deserves.”

@jeremy_abbott The concept of Saturdays at @Amber's is simple… We’ve been blown away by the reponse to our opening month. We cant wait to share what we have in store 🧡📴 #ambersmanchester #manchester #nightclub #ravetok #ambers #electronicmusic #dancemusic ♬ original sound – Jeremy

While we understand the urge to document those ‘unforgettable’ gig moments – that does kind of go against what we build them up to be, hence why the Amber’s concept has gone down so well.

Teasing a lineup of “the best in house, techno and groove”, Amber’s Room Two 2.0 will debut on 2 August, and regulars are buzzing for it.

As always, the headliner remains unannounced to keep that allure, as well as that further added feeling of anticipation and excitement.

Have you tried Manchester’s no-phone club yet?

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Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)

Property

Inside One Port Street, the Northern Quarter’s luxury new 32-storey apartment block

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The view from the top of One Port Street. Credit: The Manc Group

A towering new development in the Northern Quarter has revealed its open date – and given a sneak glimpse inside the luxury apartments.

One Port Street is a £195m development on the doorstep of both the Northern Quarter and Ancoats, standing at 32 storeys tall and boasting 477 open-plan apartments.

And this major new development will also be home to a 2000 sq ft leisure facility with a swimming pool, a spa pool, and an urban garden, with a total of 22,000 sq ft of public green space.

The building’s hit a major milestone this month, finally confirming an opening date of February 2026.

One Port Street has been developed by Select Property in partnership with prestigious architects SimpsonHaugh.

Inside, each apartment will offer an industrial aesthetic with exposed textures, and apartments ranging in size from one bed to three.

There’ll be glass balcony balustrades, with a pattern inspired by textile patterns from the Whitworth Art Gallery.

As well as the apartments, One Port Street will have high-spec indoor and outdoor working and socialising spaces, such as a 360° firepit, state-of-the-art gym and yoga studios, and co-working spaces.

One Port Street in Manchester. Credit: Select Properties
One Port Street in Manchester. Credit: Select Properties
CGIs of how One Port Street will look when it’s completed. Credit: Jon Parker Lee

On the 7th floor, there’ll be a resident lounge and external terrace, named after a tavern which stood on Port Street 200 years ago, plus a secret room for residents called The Hideout.

Ian Simpson, Founder Partner at SimpsonHaugh, said: “One Port Street embodies the rich architectural diversity of Manchester.

“This development offers more than just a place to live, work, and socialise – it’s a sanctuary within the city’s most creative and lively neighbourhood. It’s a true example of what a sustainable, modern community should be.”

Inside a One Port Street apartment
Inside a One Port Street apartment
Inside a One Port Street apartment
Inside a One Port Street apartment. Credit: The Manc Group

Adam Price, CEO at Select Property, added: “One Port Street is set to be a true landmark for Manchester and represents everything we believe modern residential living should be – design-led, community-minded and connected to its surroundings and local heritage.

“The Northern Quarter has long been the focal point of Manchester’s creativity and culture and this new development takes inspiration from that while bringing something new to the community.

“The response so far has been phenomenal, and as we enter the final phase, we’re proud to be collaborating with local artists and independent businesses to bring the finishing touches to life, ahead of welcoming our first residents. Make sure you join the waitlist to be part of this exciting story.”

One Port Street is set to complete in February 2026 and you can see more here.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

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