Manchester to get new 52-storey skyscraper at old Granada site

Manchester’s skyline is set for a significant new arrival following the news that plans to build a 52-storey skyscraper at the former Granada studios site in the city centre have been approved.

Plans to build 387 apartments as part of the new £1.35bn St John’s neighbourhood were given the green light by the city council this week. The tallest building in Allied London’s redevelopment at St John’s will rise to 168.4m, which is just half a metre shorter than the iconic Beetham Tower in Manchester’s Deansgate.

Nadler Hotel plans to operate from the 18 lower storeys of the skyscraper with private rented flats above. The 3.2-acre site around the former Granada Studios site is located is part of the wider 13-acre St John’s £1.3bn regeneration scheme, which includes several more high rise buildings. 

Four new buildings are also planned, ranging in size from three to 51 storeys, which will include a mix of residential, leisure and workspace. It is set to feature around 400 new flats, shops and class A office space, as well as a mix of restaurants, bars and cafés. Public spaces have also been included in the design, with access to rooftop gardens, riverside walkways, car and cycle parking and landscaped green spaces. 

The developer now has to meet around fifty recommendations that were made by the council for the plans to go ahead, including provisions for cycling and electric vehicle charging stations. There are also provisions to be met regarding the local labour agreement. Manchester City Council planning committee member councillor Chris Paul, said: “I strongly welcome this application and it is really good but I would like to see it tied in with as many job creation opportunities as we possibly can. We certainly could work in creating as many apprentices, in particular for under 24-year-olds, as is humanly possible.”

Once complete, at the end of 2018, St John's Neighbourhood will comprise 1,450 homes, 2.8m square feet of workspace, public realm, hotels, arts venues including the £110m Factory arts centre and independent shops, cafés, and restaurants.