New images have been released of a new residential development taking shape in Manchester in 2023.
The 33-storey tower of One Port Street will be home to 477 premium and luxury apartments, as well as a pool, a rooftop terrace and a grand reception area with a firepit in it.
Plans for the £154m development were initially rejected for being too tall, but after a storey was shaved off the plans, the building works got the green light to go ahead.
And despite being labelled an ‘absolute abomination’ by those who opposed the plans, you can’t deny that the new CGIs are pretty beautiful.
One Port Street will be the first building in Select Property’s residential brand, the ‘Prestige Collection’, focusing on wellbeing and service.
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The landmark building will start to take shape on the outskirts of the Northern Quarter, just off Great Ancoats Street, very soon.
Apartments will range in size from one-bedroom to three-bedrooms, each one inspired by ‘Manchester’s industrial history’ with warehouse and loft-style features that ‘blend elegant style with urban renewal and embrace raw architectural elements including wood, metal, stone and fire’.
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One Port Street in Manchester. Credit: Select Properties
The vision for One Port Street is to blend the luxuries of a five-star hotel with the exclusivity of a private members’ club.
It also promises to be a ‘green gateway’ to the city, with 22,000 sq ft of public green space.
Residents will enter their building through a grand reception area centred around a 360° firepit with concierge service.
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Click or swipe through the gallery below to see more:
One Port Street in Manchester. Credit: Select PropertiesOne Port Street in Manchester. Credit: Select PropertiesOne Port Street in Manchester. Credit: Select PropertiesOne Port Street in Manchester. Credit: Select Properties
The 2,000 sq ft leisure suite will feature a private swimming pool and spa pool, a state-of-the-art gym and separate fitness studio, plus more wellness facilities in the form of a ground floor urban garden wellbeing, the new destination will also provide two outdoor spaces – a ground floor urban garden and a rooftop garden terrace.
Then there’s the seventh-floor club lounge Paganini’s, plus co-working spaces, private dining areas and a food outlet on the ground floor.
Adam Price, CEO of Select Property, said: “Launching One Port Street – and our Prestige Collection – marks the culmination of decades’ of experience across the UK’s residential market, creating compelling places to live. One Port Street harnesses that knowledge to create the ultimate residential offer, and there is no better city to do it than Manchester.
“Once complete, the site will not only deliver for its residents, but it will bring greater value for the wider city too, creating an inviting neighbourhood with more green, public spaces and incorporating sustainability measures that will have a lasting positive impact on Manchester and its people for years to come.”
Ian Simpson, Partner at SimpsonHaugh, added: “One Port Street will become as synonymous with the Northern Quarter as Beetham Tower has become for Deansgate. Celebrating its neighbourhood in full, the building has been designed to fuse modern luxury living and all the trappings that brings such as a stunning pool with urban contemporary loft-apartments that Manchester, Brooklyn, and Shoreditch are famous for. Once finished, it will be the ultimate place for professionals to live.”
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Price added: “To date, we have sold over £2.6 billion worth of property across multiple brands to our global investors, but One Port Street is our most exciting one yet – situated in the iconic Northern Quarter of the city, it is a bespoke property offering a five-star living experience. As a first-of-its kind destination, One Port Street will quickly become an in-demand postcode in the city and provide a vibrant new residential neighbourhood.”
With 477 apartments, One Port Street will create 59 jobs and will bring £28M of economic impact to the city.
Renaker is the main construction partner on the development and the scheme has been designed by SimpsonHaugh.
Featured image: Supplied, Select Properties
Property
Altrincham named one of the UK’s best places to live in 2026 in The Sunday Times’ annual ranking
Emily Sergeant
A popular Greater Manchester town has been named among the UK’s best places to live by the Sunday Times in its annual ranking.
That’s right… it’s that time of year, once again.
The Sunday Times is known for pulling together a list of what it considers to be the most sought-after places to live in the UK every year, and 2026’s ranking has officially been published today – with dozens of locations across the country making up the comprehensive guide, and six of those coveted locations being right here in the North West.
The Sunday Times’s expert judges have visited all locations on the list, and assessed factors such as schools, transport, culture, broadband speeds, access to green spaces, the health of the high streets, and much more to devise the always-talked-about annual ranking.
Macclesfield in Cheshire, Eden Valley in Cumbria, Lancaster in Lancashire, and Aigburth in Liverpool are just some of the North West areas named by the publication in the 2026 list.
Altrincham has been named one of the best places to live in the UK / Credit: The Manc Group
A spotlight has also been shone on two Greater Manchester towns, and one of two has even been given the regional North West title… but which are they?
Where has taken the top spot as the best place to live in the North West for 2026, and is therefore one of the best places to live in the whole of the country? Well, that honour has been given to none other than Greater Manchester’s very-own Altrincham.
The publication described the Trafford town as ‘classy, cool and effortlessly comfortable’.
“Altrincham is a top-notch town brimming with independent businesses and big brands, and now it’s flying even higher,” The Sunday Times said.
The fact that co-working has now arrived on the high street thanks to the conversion of the old Rackhams department store, and that the town’s cultural and creative ‘cachet’ is also on the rise, have been highlighted as reasons as to why Altrincham has been chosen as the North West’s winner, as well its newly-flourishing fitness scene.
Of course, the town has also been praised for its transport links into Manchester city centre and across the region, as well as it being a great place for families thanks to the excellent local schools on offer.
Didsbury was the other Greater Manchester town chosen to represent the best of the North West – with the Manchester suburb described as being ‘stylish, solid, safe, and, yes, a little bit smug in parts… but that’s okay’.
You can read the full Altrincham feature here, and see where else The Sunday Times included in its list for 2026 here.
Featured Image – Geograph
Property
Behind the historic doors of the £3.75m Cheshire country house with a ‘triple-height’ swimming pool hall
Emily Sergeant
A historic country house in Cheshire with far-reaching panoramic views has just gone on the market this month.
And if you happen to have £3.75 million you’re willing to part with, then it could be yours.
Now, of course, as we always mention before we write about these stunning homes, it goes without saying that the vast majority of us won’t have this kind of money just chilling in bank accounts right now, but if like us, you’ve got no shame in admitting you love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty.
This is Wicksted Hall – a distinguished arts and crafts-style country house estate dating back to the early 1900s set amongst 12 acres of established private gardens, grounds, and paddocks.
Straddling the borders of Cheshire and Shropshire, located in the highly sought-after Whitchurch village of Wirsall, Wicksted Hall boats seven bedrooms, guest suites, a billiards room, library, media room, office suites, and so much more.
It really is no surprise estate agents describe this home as being ‘exquisite’.
Set at the end of a winding driveway, once you step foot inside the property’s grand central entrance hall you’ll be greeted by a sweeping oak staircase, oak panelling, a galleried landing, stunning fireplace… and, quite frankly, more character and charm than you shake a stick at.
This is Wicksted Hall, currently on the market for £3.75 million / Credit: Fine & Country
Some of the home’s other unique features include a bespoke Clive Christian kitchen and family room that flows out to an orangery and inner courtyard, as well as a principal suite with bespoke Clive Christian dressing room, and arts and crafts balcony, and luxurious en-suite bathroom.
Oh, and then to top it off, the true icing on the cake is the leisure suite with a triple-height swimming pool hall, frescoes, jacuzzi, changing rooms, gallery, and a service kitchen.
Honestly, ‘wow’ doesn’t even cut it.
The property boats panoramic views and a triple-height indoor swimming pool hall / Credit: Fine & County
Oh, and don’t even get us started on the outside. As we’ve already mentioned, Wickstead Hall boasts 12-acres of established private gardens and grounds with outstanding, far-reaching panoramic views over the surrounding Cheshire and Shropshire countryside… but that’s not all.
There’s an original Victorian walled kitchen garden, glass houses, a range of outbuildings, paddocks, equestrian facilities, an original pump house, and the small matter of a heli pad.
Wicksted Hall is currently on the market with the Derby branch of UK-wide prestige estate agency label, Fine & Country, for Offers in the Region of £3.75 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the agents to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosy at the Rightmove link here.
Daisy Jackson -
9th January 2023 
