The race to build Manchester’s tallest building is on, after new plans were unveiled today (November 27) for a 76-storey city centre skyscraper.
Salboy has lifted the lid on its plans for Viadux phase two, which sits next to Beetham Tower — Manchester’s tallest building for 12 years from 2006. It lost its crown to the 200-metre tall Deansgate South Tower in 2018, the current record holder.
But it will lose its crown in the next few years to either Viadux phase two, or Renaker’s 71-storey Plot D project. Plot D, which will be near Deansgate Square and Mancunian Way, will be a huge 213 metres tall.
Salboy has not released an accurate height of the projected Viadux phase two skyscraper, but has said it will be five storeys taller than Plot D — meaning it is likely to become Manchester’s tallest building. Officially known as Viadux phase 2a, it will contain around 780 ‘high quality’ new homes in the larger tower, and there are plans to build a smaller tower next door, of 23 storeys.
That ‘small tower’ — called phase 2b — will have roughly 130 affordable homes to ‘contribute towards the need for city centre affordable housing’, the developers say. Salboy is nearly ready to open Viadux 1 to the public, which is a 40-storey, 362-home apartment block next to Beetham Tower.
And it is that building which has provided the inspiration for the design of phase 2a, Salboy says. Its new consultation website explained: “Phase Two follows the same design principles as Phase One, but look to increase the level of ambition further still.
“The Viadux Phase Two tower will become the focal point of this cluster of tall buildings and make a visually striking addition to Manchester’s skyline.”
Originally, Salboy had planning permission for the two sites to become office blocks, but it says those ambitions have been shelved. The statement went on: “The land in between the Beetham Tower and Viadux Phase One has approval for an office building, approved as part of the Beetham Tower development, but never delivered.
“This site will be redeveloped as a new distinctive diamond shaped building, to be delivered as new affordable homes in the heart of the city centre. The building will be elevated above the public realm stair and lift with new shops or cafes opening onto the viaduct.
“Moving east, beyond Viadux Phase One, the new 76-storey residential tower will replace the previous plans for a large office on the site. To complete the wider city block, we are exploring options to place a smaller retail building facing onto Albion Street to create a new edge to the city street.”