And perhaps nothing quite illustrates this more than the ever-changing skyline around us, with even more new skyscrapers, towering apartment buildings and office blocks set to further transform the city as we know it heading into the new year.
Several major projects are expected to break ground in 2021, while others that have long been in the pipeline could be completed.
Most of the development will continue to come out of the city centre in areas that have been earmarked for regeneration for several years – such as Deansgate, Mayfield, and NOMA – but some schemes have been given planning permission in the past 12 months.
Here’s how we can expect the face of Manchester to change once again this coming year.
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First Street
Downing
Co-living proved to be one of the most controversial concepts to enter the planning conversation in Manchester this year, and developer Downing’s plan for a vast co-living scheme on the edge of the city centre near Hulme was at the heart of the debate.
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The developer’s proposals for more than 2,000 apartments across four residential blocks – including a 45-storey tower – prompted backlash from housing campaigners and councillors who feared the buildings would become “slums of the future”.
But Downing received planning permission in September, and work is expected to start on-site in early 2021.
Blade and Cylinder
Crown Street
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SimpsonHaugh / Renaker Build
As part of the latest phase Renaker’s Crown Street development on the edge of the city centre near Mancunian Way, two new 52-storey skyscrapers will provide 855 apartments, a new 210-place primary school – with a rooftop playground – and a public park will sit between them, also set to house one, two and three-bedroom properties.
The towers – nicknamed ‘Blade’ and ‘Cylinder’ – will be joined at the base by a large podium, which will include concierge areas, a lounge, gym sauna and shops.
The scheme will also form part of the wider regeneration of Great Jackson Street.
Oxygen
Piccadilly
Russell WBHO
The £85 million Oxygen development in Piccadilly has reached a milestone this year.
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The landmark 36-storey tower – along with its neighbouring 16 and 10 storey neighbours – topped out over the summer, and the three buildings will house 372 one and two-bedroom apartments, and 12 ground-level townhouses with their own gardens.
A five-star spa will include a 25-metre luxury pool, while residents will also be able to enjoy a private cinema, gym and fitness studio.
Developers are aiming for the entire scheme to be fully completed in 2021.
The first phase of development centres around the 6.5-acre Mayfield Park – which will include a bridge over a restored section of the River Medlock currently buried beneath the former industrial estate – and two office buildings – The Poulton and The Republic – will reach 13 and nine storeys high respectively to provide 319,900sq ft of workspace.
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An 11-storey car park with 581 spaces will also be built as part of the first phase, and it is hoped the majority of the park will be built within two years, so it could be open by early 2023.
New Victoria
New Victoria Scheme
Construction of the £185 million mixed-use scheme – close to Manchester Victoria Station – finally began this year, more than four years after planning permission was originally granted, and the Network Rail-Muse Developments joint project will see three towers built in place of a surface level car park on Corporation Street.
Two of the towers – 20 and 25 storeys high – will provide up to 520 one, two and three bedroom apartments for rent, and the third eight-storey building will house 150,000sq ft of Grade A office space.
NOMA
NOMA
NOMA will continue to take shape in 2021.
Around 563,000sq ft of office spaces have already been built or are under construction at the £800 million city centre site – including Amazon’s first UK headquarters outside of London – and some residents have also already moved into Angel Gardens – the 36-storey tower promising luxury living through its 458 high-end apartments – but this year, Manchester City Council signed off on plans to expand development within the 20-acre site centred around Angel Square to include more offices, retail and leisure space.
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Running slightly ahead of schedule, 4 Angel Square – the 11-storey office block expected to house around 2,000 workers – has already seen construction begin ready for a 2022 completion date.
The building will sit at the corner of Corporation Street and Miller Street.
StayCity Aparthotel
Deansgate
Ask Real Estate / SimpsonHaugh
Following the winning of planning approval back in June, work on the 22-storey hotel next to the Grade II listed Castlefield Viaduct in Deansgate is expected to start next year, and it will be the fourth StayCity branch to open in Manchester, with the aparthotel chain already operating in St Peter’s Square, Mason Street, and near Piccadilly station.
The 310-room hotel will be built in a small half-acre plot sandwiched between the viaduct and The Deansgate pub, which will be retained.
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Two arches running underneath the viaduct will also be opened up for use by businesses.
The Factory
The Factory
The Factory – the landmark arts complex, which has been beset by rising costs and delays – was supposed to open next year, but construction will continue throughout the coming months with contractors eyeing up a late-2022 opening.
Construction on the nearby Manchester Goods Yard, the 400,000sq ft office block- which will house Booking.com’s new headquarters – did however begin this year.
It is also expected to finish in 2021.
St John’s
Water Street
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Vita / Denton Corker Marshall
A new £1.3 billion project is expected in 2021.
The St John’s neighbourhood – based in and around the former ITV Granada studios – will continue to take shape in the coming year, with two towers – one 36 storeys high and the other 32 storeys – built by the Vita Group providing 1,600 co-living flats off Water Street in Manchester city centre.
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Stephen Graham sheds light on the ‘possibility’ of a second season of Adolescence
Danny Jones
Pretty much everyone has been getting through the incredible yet harrowing experience of watching Adolescence on Netflix this month, and though it may have seemed unlikely at first, series star Stephen Graham recently discussed the possibility of a second season.
For those who aren’t aware, it was never expected that the four-part limited series surrounding a young boy accused of a violent crime would be the global phenomenon it has been, nor was it hoping to secure a deal for another season: the whole point of the show was to tell a powerful but self-contained story.
However, with it becoming the most-watched thing on the platform in just four days – not to mention notching all manner of streaming records – it’s no surprise that the suggestion of capitalising on its smash hit success has come up.
Many feel the kind of narrative it tells is so important that the idea should at least be explored.
“You throw the stone into a pond and this ripple effect has been huge… But we never meant it to have this impact, we just wanted to tell a truthful and honest story.” Co-writer and actor Stephen Graham reflects on his powerful new Netflix series Adolescence, which explores… pic.twitter.com/aO3JKNYH16
Speaking in a recent interview with Variety, co-creator and lead Graham sat down with his wife Hannah Walters, who also helped write and produce the show, to discuss the reaction
When asked quite simply if any discussions have been had about an Adolescence season two, while it sounds like there’s nothing official yet, he didn’t dismiss the concept outright.
“Possibly, let’s see how the figures are, but yeah, there’s the possibility of developing another story”, says the 51-year-old from Kirkby.
It might not be much to go as yet; however, just knowing that there’s room to tell another chapter is good enough – especially given the “smirk” the 51-year-old is said to have responded with during his answer.
Many fans thought the chances of a second series had been dashed early doors after fellow co-creator Jack Thorne recently went on This Morning and dismissed the potential pretty much altogether.
In his words: “I don’t think we’re the right people to tell Katie’s story […] I think there are other makers out there that could tell beautiful dramas about Katie or girls like Katie [the victim in the show], and that those shows should be made.”
That being said, just because he doesn’t sound like he’d be involved will an Adolescence sequel, it doesn’t mean Graham might not be.
The impact of the show, especially here in the UK, cannot be overstated and not just because of the cross-generational viewing figures.
Fellow Adolescence actor Jo Hartley, who was born down the road in Oldham, joined countless celebrities in waxing lyrical over the importance of the show following what she called an “overwhelming” reaction in just the first few days.
In fact, the shockwaves it sent across Britain and beyond have been so strong that the writers have even been invited to Parliament to discuss the series’ themes and how to help tackle them better.
The free stuff your mum can get in Manchester for Mother’s Day
Danny Jones
If there’s one thing we know for sure it’s that none of us would be lucky enough to be on this planet were it not for our mums, and we think the least they deserve is for things to be made easy, comfortable and, ideally, free wherever possible when it comes to Mother’s Dayherein Manchester.
Now, we don’t live in a perfect so unfortunately not everyone Manc mum is going to be able swan into their favourite place and expect a complimentary this and a gratis that.
However, there are guite a few places in Manchester city centre doing the right things and giving away some free stuff for Mother’s Day 2025, so we thought we’d round them up for you and, more importantly, the person who helped bring you into the world.
Let’s get into, shall we?
Six freebies mums can score in Manchester this Mother’s Day
Albert’s Schloss – Deansgate
What better to begin than with a top-notch breakfast spot? Albert’s Schloss on Peter St is not only one of the best places to start or end a day out but they also do brilliant early morning offerings. Plus, this Mother’s Day, you can wash down your Bavarian brekkie with a free spritz, because why the hell not?
And since you’ve started as you mean to go on, we’d say the only thing better than an early drink (and a free one at that) is a second one, so it’s a good job one of the newest additions to Manchester, The Trading Route, is offering a free cocktail to mums this Mother’s Day.
Best of all, the new S. John’s beer and food hall is located just down the road from the main Deansgate strip and is just next to Spinningfields, so it’s a short walk from Schloss. You can book HERE.
Speaking of which, if your and/or your mum resisted the urge to grab another bite at Trading Route (we wouldn’t blame them if they did), you could then head from St. John’s to Spinningfields and grab some a sophisticated bit of brunch as you grab your next freebie.
Habibi on Hardman Boulevard is giving away a complimentary luxury gift from home, body and beauty brand, Rituals, to those who book ahead. Consider that killing two gift-shaped birds with one stone.
Now, we’re not necessarily expecting you stop at every single place on this list – unless your feeling extravagant or your mum really is that mega that she deserves all of this and more – but you’d be a fool not to grab yourself a margarita on the house from any Nell’s location.
Besides, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to grab a slice to further line your stomach.
However, if mum hasn’t had a nibble in a hot minute then why not take her back in the direction you came from to beloved Polish restaurant, Platzki, who as well as serving an incredible main menu are also offering a free cheesecake or apple pie to all maternal diners this Mother’s Day.
Open for walk-ins as always, of course, but you can reserve your table HERE.
Credit: The Manc Group
House of Fu – Central
And last but not least, what harm would another free marg do? That’s what on the cards over at House of Fu, which just so happens to be up there with some the best ramen in Manchester if there’s still any room in that well-treated tummy.
Located on Portland Street, it’s also not too far from Picadilly, the bus station or St Peter’s Square tram stop when you and your mum are ready to call a day on this freebie parade… Or, you could always tie off the night with some karaoke downstairs. Now that’s how you put an end to a party.
We’d like to think that half a dozen options should just about do you and your mums in central Manchester, though we’re sure there’s plenty more free things to snap up this Mother’s Day.
The cynics might want you to believe that this date is just another annual observance created, or at least perpetuated by companies to sell cards, flowers, chocolate and son, but the truth is a special day that deserves to be celebrated properly.
In fact, the truth is that Mothering Sunday started nearly 120 years ago over in Philadelphia, when a woman named Anna Jarvis wanted to honour her mother who spent her life gathering groups to promote female friendship and health during a memorial service at her late mother’s church.
We think that’s wonderful and whatever your relationship with the mother figure in your life, we reckon it’s a sentiment and motivation worth sustaining much more than just once a year.
Much love to all our mums from The Manc, and sorry if we were ever a pain – hopefully a few drinks makes up for it.
The Manc -
30th December 2020 
