Deansgate Square, formerly known as Owen Street, is a skyscraper cluster on the southern edge of Manchester City Centre, consisting of four skyscrapers, the highest is 201 metres tall. The site is just south of Deansgate railway station and north of the Mancunian Way, bounded by Old Deansgate, Pond Street, Owen Street and the River Medlock. Manchester City Council adopted a framework in the early 2000s, known as the Great Jackson Street Development Framework, which earmarked the site as an acceptable location for high-rise buildings. The framework was enacted to encourage building development as the site had been vacant for many years and was perceived to be isolated as it was bounded by major arterial roads. In 2016, the scheme was revived with a planning application for a cluster of four skyscrapers – the tallest being the South Tower at 201 metres. Although incomplete, the topped out concrete core and floor plates of the South Tower surpassed the 169-metre Beetham Tower as the tallest building in Manchester in November 2018. It will be the 5th tallest building in the United Kingdom after The Shard, One Canada Square, Heron Tower and the Leadenhall Building – all of which are in London. Construction on the tower complex officially began in July 2016, with developer Renaker beginning construction on the South and West Towers which are 201 and 141 metres tall. In October 2017, construction commenced on the North and East Towers, which are 122 and 158 metres tall. Overall completion of the development occurred mid 2020. As of June 2020, additional towers are under construction in the adjacent vicinity as part of the Great Jackson Street Development Framework, including the 152 metre Elizabeth Tower.
History
2007 original scheme
The 2007 scheme consisted of five high-rise buildings containing nearly 1,100 residential units, 100 serviced apartments, a hotel, parking, office and retail space, and community facilities. The tallest skyscraper planned was “Block D”, which would have consisted of 49 storeys — two storeys more than Manchester's tallest building, Beetham Tower — and high. A planning application was submitted to Manchester City Council in 2007 and was approved early in 2008. Permission to extend the time limit for building on the site was sought from the Council in early 2011, a request which was granted in September 2011.
2016 revived scheme
The revised scheme, proposed by developers Renaker Build and designed by SimpsonHaugh and Partners, was made public in January 2016 with a planning application to seek permission for the construction of four skyscrapers submitted in April. The proposed towers range from 122 to 200+ metres high – the South Tower is 64 floors and 200.5 metres tall, the East Tower is 50 floors and 157.9 metres tall, the North Tower is 37 floors and 122 metres tall and the West Tower is 44 floors and 140.4 metres tall. The scheme was approved by Manchester City Council on 30 June 2016.
Construction
Construction on the tower complex officially began in July 2016, with developer Renaker starting construction on the South and West Towers. Piling works on the West Tower were complete by November 2016, with tower cranes erected soon after. Both towers would continue to rise for another two years before "topping out" in mid-2018. By October 2017, as both the South and West Towers continued to rise, construction on the foundation and podium for the North and East Towers commenced. By July 2018, the West Tower "topped out" having reached the 45th floor - its highest floor level. By November 2018, the South Tower – the tallest tower of the approved scheme at 201 metres – had "topped out" having reached the 65th floor, its highest floor level. In August 2018, institutional investor Legal & General acquired the 140 metre West Tower with the intention to rent the tower out once complete. Although this deal for the West tower was undisclosed, its estimated real estate value was believed to be in the region of £200 million according to Estates Gazette. In January 2020, Legal & General announced the exchange of contracts for the Built to Rent “North Tower”. North Tower represents Legal & General's second Built to Rent acquisition in Deansgate Square. As of June 2020 the West, South, and East Towers are complete and occupancy has occurred. The North Tower is nearing completion.
