engineering.
Manchester-based developer Glenbrook has submitted a planning application to Manchester City Council for a 44-storey residential tower at 2-4 Whitworth Street West. The proposed development aims to deliver 364 apartments, comprising 120 one-bedroom, 218 two-bedroom, and 26 three-bedroom units.
With architectural design by Sheppard Robson, the structure has been engineered by AKT II’s Structures and Envelopes teams to make the most of its uniquely narrow site. The design team has selected terracotta as the primary façade material, paying homage to Manchester’s rich industrial heritage while adding warmth and depth to the cityscape.
The site is located in a prominent position to the south of the city centre. Bound by Whitworth Street West to the north, the Grade I listed railway viaduct and Deansgate Station platform to the south. Rowendale Street bisects the site travelling under the railway viaduct with Cameron Street and Bugle Street to the east and west.
The vacant and neglected brownfield site provides the ideal opportunity to create a vibrant new development and community which delivers considered and elegant architecture responding to the locality and heritage and materiality of Manchester.
A key feature of the scheme is its investment in the surrounding streetscape, with a striking tall arched colonnade at the lower levels, enhancing interaction at street level and integrating seamlessly into the urban environment.
Glenbrook aims to secure planning permission by the first half of this year, with the goal of commencing construction in the third quarter of 2026. If these timelines are met, the skyscraper could be completed by the third quarter of 2029.
This project represents a significant addition to Manchester’s ongoing urban development, reflecting a commitment to sustainable design and enhanced city living.
