Manchester City Council has officially approved the highly anticipated Viadux 2 skyscraper – a landmark development poised to become the UK’s tallest residential tower outside London.
Rising to an impressive height of 246 metres, the 76-storey tower will feature 452 premium apartments alongside a 160-room hotel managed by the upscale Nobu brand, which counts actor Robert De Niro among its co-owners.
The Viadux 2 skyscraper in Manchester is the centrepiece of a £350 million mixed-use scheme by developer Salboy and designed by acclaimed architecture firm Simpson Haugh. Once complete, it will be the fourth tallest building in the UK, after The Shard, the upcoming 1 Undershaft, and 22 Bishopsgate.
Towering Transformation of Manchester’s Skyline
An additional 23-storey block containing 133 affordable homes forms part of the Viadux 2 development, which contributes to the growing cluster of skyscrapers reshaping the southern end of Manchester city centre.
The cluster already features the 40-storey Viadux Phase One tower, which was completed in the previous year.
Salboy’s construction arm, Domis, is slated to deliver both new towers, continuing its partnership from the first phase. The planning committee approved the Viadux 2 project by seven votes to three, following revised plans submitted after Nobu’s involvement, which will see the hospitality brand manage the entire building.
Project Team
The Viadux 2 development team comprises:
- Renaissance – Structural Engineer
- Artal – Project Manager
- WSP – Façade Engineer
- SLR – Transport Consultant
- Ridge – Building Services
- Deloitte – Planning Consultant
- GIA – Daylight Consultant
- Planit – Landscape Architect
More Towers Join the Skyline
In addition to Viadux 2, Manchester’s planning committee approved three more high-rise projects:
- 2-4 Whitworth Street (44 Storeys):
Designed by Sheppard Robson for developer Glenbrook, this scheme was approved by nine votes to one. It will include:- 364 build-to-rent homes
- 7,800 sq ft of commercial space
- A striking podium with terracotta-coloured arches
- Around 700 sq m of landscaped public space
The team includes Deloitte (planning), Quartz Project Services (costs), AKTII (structural), Futurserv (M&E), OFR (fire safety), and Layer Studio (landscape).
- First Street Student Tower (33 Storeys): Designed by Tim Groom Architects for Vita Group, this purpose-built student accommodation will provide 841 student beds within the expanding high-rise cluster. The development team includes Deloitte as planning consultant, ROC Consulting handling structural and civil engineering, Abacus as quantity surveyor, Futurserv for mechanical and electrical services, and TPM Landscape overseeing the landscape design.
Manchester’s High-Rise Boom
South Manchester’s skyline is undergoing a dramatic transformation, with 12 towers already built and a further 19 approved. The Viadux 2 skyscraper Manchester will not only redefine the city’s silhouette but also reinforce its position as a hub for modern urban living and architectural ambition.
