Building work on controversial £154m skyscraper looks to have started

Construction work on the latest skyscraper to come to the city centre appears to have started in the Northern Quarter this week.

The £154 million One Port Street development will sit on the site of an existing car-park on Port Street, just off Great Ancoats Street. Once it is complete, the tower will stand at 33 storeys and feature 477 apartments.

Architects SimpsonHaugh say they hope it can become as famous and synonymous with Manchester as the iconic Beetham Tower, on the other side of the city. However, opposition to the plans was vociferous during the planning process, with the scheme being rejected twice by Manchester City Council.

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However, developers Select Property believe that the tower will ‘bring greater value to the wider city too’.

CEO Adam Price said: "Once complete, the site will not only deliver for its residents, but it will bring greater value for the wider city too, creating an inviting neighbourhood with more green, public spaces and incorporating sustainability measures that will have a lasting positive impact on Manchester and its people for years to come.”

How the tower will look once it's complete (Select Property)

Now, staff from construction partner Renaker have been spotted on-site this week. The land ceased being used as a car park on Sunday (January 8), with work beginning to fence off the area the following day.

In the days since, heavy machinery has also been spotted on the former car park. Port Street is used as a link from Piccadilly and Northern Quarter to the inner ring road, and is home to several popular independent businesses — such as Port Street Beer House, The Modernist, and the Crown and Anchor pub.

The heavy machinery spotted on-site this week (MEN)

Renaker has been contacted for comment.

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