A planned skyscraper that was already set to be Manchester's tallest building looks set to get even taller as the city's skyscraper race goes on.
Initially, Phase 2a of the Viadux scheme was projected to reach a height of 241 metres and house 782 apartments. However, Salboy, the developer at the helm, has reshuffled the internal design of this towering structure to accommodate 452 flats alongside a 160-room hotel.
To make room for the hotel, the revised plans will see the skyscraper reach 245.65m, although it will still boast 76 storeys. A recent update from Salboy said: "While the principles behind the design approach remain the same, our revised details include minor details to the façade of the tower to accommodate the hotel use.
"This has also resulted in a small increase in the height of the building, although within the same number of storeys."
The hotel's inclusion was first teased last autumn, with the announcement last week that Nobu, co-owned by Hollywood icon Robert De Niro, will be the operator. Fred Done, the founder of Salboy and betting behemoth Betfred, said that this partnership 'is about bringing this level of class to Manchester and celebrating what it means for the city'.
Set to rise between the Manchester Central convention centre and Lower Moseley Street, the 246-metre skyscraper will adjoin the 40-storey Viadux 'phase one' apartment block, which opened adjacent to Beetham Tower last year. Salboy's concurrent proposal for 'phase 2b', a 23-storey block dedicated to affordable housing nearby, remains unchanged.
The new Viadux tower is now set to become Manchester's tallest tower, but the race to the skies is heating up.
In Manchester, Renaker's proposed 'Plot D' skyscraper is set to surpass the 200m-tall Deansgate Square South Tower as the city's tallest structure, with a total height of 213m. Currently, Renaker has an advantage over Salboy as Plot D has already secured planning permission, while Viadux is still awaiting approval.
However, both are likely to be overshadowed by a project on the opposite side of the River Irwell. Henley Investment Management intends to demolish a significant portion of the Regent Road retail park in Salford to make room for 10 new apartment blocks and 3,300 flats.
The tallest of these will stand at 273m, making it the third tallest building in Britain, surpassing anything in Canary Wharf and only exceeded by The Shard and Horizon 22 in London.
Like Viadux, this project is yet to receive planning permission, but it is anticipated to be reviewed by Salford council within the next four months.
Further details of the Viadux plans .
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