Deansgate Square

Deansgate Square, formerly known as Owen Street, is a residential skyscraper cluster on the southern edge of Manchester City Centre, England, consisting of four towers, the tallest of which is . The site is just south of Deansgate railway station and north of the Mancunian Way, bounded by Deansgate, Owen Street and the River Medlock. The towers sit at different angles to each other, with a slight bevel, or 'cut back', on each side of each building which ensures the towers catch the light at different times of day.

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 . The South Tower surpassed the Beetham Tower as the tallest building in Greater Manchester in November 2018.

Construction on the tower complex officially began in July 2016, with developer Renaker beginning construction on the South Tower and West Tower, the latter being tall.
In October 2017, construction commenced on the North and East Towers, which are and tall respectively. Overall completion of the development occurred in late 2020. Other towers in the adjacent vicinity that were also built as part of the ''Great Jackson Street Development Framework'' include The Blade and Three60, both at . The Elizabeth Tower was completed in 2022.

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 tall.

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 to over tall – the South Tower is 64 floors and tall, the East Tower is 50 floors and tall, the North Tower is 37 floors and tall and the West Tower is 44 floors and 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 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. The North Tower represents Legal & General's second Built to Rent acquisition in Deansgate Square.

October 2020 saw the final completion of the North, South, East and West Towers.

Gallery

File:Owen Street Tower 4 .jpg, West Tower, Core up to level 16 of 44, July 2017
File:Owen Street Tower 1.jpg, West Tower with seven floors fully glazed, September 2017
File:Deansgate - geograph.org.uk - 5555799.jpg, The West Tower under construction, visible at the end of Deansgate, October 2017
File:Owen Street 11 December.jpg, West Tower at night, December 2017
File:Owen Street Development (geograph 5724473).jpg, West Tower Deansgate, April 2018
File: Deansgate Square (geograph 5842598).jpg, Deansgate Square under construction in 2018
File:Deansgate square south tower.jpg, Deansgate Square, Completed November 2018
File:Deansgate Square - South Tower.jpg, Deansgate Square, December 2022

See also

* Beetham Tower – the former tallest completed building in Manchester at . South Tower at became the tallest building in Greater Manchester and outside London in the United Kingdom.
* List of tallest buildings and structures in Greater Manchester
* List of tallest buildings in the United Kingdom – as of October 2024, Deansgate Square South Tower is the 12th-tallest building in the United Kingdom.

References

External links

*

Deansgate Square
at Renaker Build

Owen Street
at SimpsonHaugh and Partners
{{Manchester B&S

Skyscrapers in Manchester
Buildings and structures in Manchester
2019 establishments in England
2020 establishments in England
Residential skyscrapers in England
Apartment buildings in England
Residential buildings completed in 2019
Residential buildings completed in 2020
Residential buildings in Manchester