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List of tallest buildings and structures in Greater Manchester

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List of tallest buildings and structures in Greater Manchester
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This list of the tallest buildings and structures in Greater Manchester ranks buildings in Greater Manchester, England, by height. Greater Manchester is the second-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom after Greater London, with a population of over 2.5 million. The region's tallest buildings are concentrated in central Manchester and the adjacent borough of Salford, which together form a single, continuous urban core along the River Irwell.

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The Great Jackson Street skyscraper district. To the right sits the 153 m (501 ft) tall Elizabeth Tower. Beyond lies Deansgate Square, a cluster of four skyscrapers including the 201 m (658 ft) tall South Tower
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A view over central Manchester and Salford from Heaton Park, October 2021

Since the late 2010s, central Manchester has experienced a major high-rise boom, with the number of buildings over 100 metres (330 ft) increasing from just four in 2017 to 26 by 2025. An additional six towers exceeding 100 metres are currently under construction. This represents the largest concentration of high-rises in any UK metropolitan area outside London. The tallest to date is the South Tower at Deansgate Square, completed in 2018 at 201 metres (659 ft), making it the tallest building in the UK outside London.

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History

Notable tall buildings were first constructed in the region during the Victorian era. These were primarily religious or administrative in nature, such Salford Cathedral, the Church of St Mary, Manchester Assize Courts, and the Manchester Town Hall Clock Tower—the latter reaching a height of 87 metres (285 ft).

The first proposed high-rise in Manchester exceeding 100 metres was the 110-metre (360 ft) Quay Street Tower, envisioned in 1948. Had it been built, it would have been the tallest tower in Europe. However, the plan was rejected as inconsiderate, given that the city was still recovering from the Manchester Blitz during the Second World War.[1][2]

A first wave of tall buildings arrived in central Manchester during the 1960s and 1970s, led by the 118-metre (387 ft) CIS Tower (1962), which became the tallest in the UK at the time,[3] and the 107-metre (351 ft) City Tower (1965).

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The modern era skyscraper boom

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After decades of limited high-rise construction throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the 21st century brought a dramatic resurgence. In 2006 the 169-metre (554 ft) Beetham Tower became the tallest building in the UK outside London and the first in the city to exceed 150 metres (490 ft), marking the beginning of Manchester's modern skyscraper era.[4]

From the late 2010s onward, the combined urban core of Manchester and Salford experienced a transformational high-rise boom. A new area of central Manchester, known as New Jackson, was created and reserved for a cluster of skyscrapers. Here, the 201-metre (659 ft) South Tower, completed in 2018, became the tallest building in the UK outside London and the first outside the capital to surpass 200 metres (660 ft).[5] Today, New Jackson features five skyscrapers above 150 metres (490 ft) and an additional two towers exceeding 100 metres (330 ft).

Outside New Jackson, the early 2020s have seen new clusters of towers constructed across other areas of the city region, adding further depth and scale. The Greengate district has become a prominent secondary high-rise area in its own right, with its tallest building being the 153-metre (502 ft) Cortland at Colliers Yard, alongside four additional buildings exceeding 100 metres.

Salford Quays has also been at the forefront of development over the past 15 years, emerging as a tertiary focal point for high-rise construction. This includes the area's first building to exceed 100 metres, the 101-metre (331 ft) Eda tower, along with six more towers completed above 75 metres (246 ft).

As of November 2025, Greater Manchester features eight completed skyscrapers above 150 metres, 26 high-rises above 100 metres and 205 mid-rises above 50 metres—by far the highest totals of any city region in the UK outside of London.

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Future skyline plans

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Unlike most major cities in the UK, Manchester does not have any significant general height restrictions.[6] This has enabled a number of transformative proposals that will significantly expand the central Manchester city region with new districts and amenities.

The current tallest proposal forms part of the newly approved Regent Park skyscraper district in Ordsall, which will sit adjacent to the New Jackson district. This district is planned to include at least 10 buildings, with the tallest potentially reaching 273 m (895 ft)—making it the third-tallest tower in the UK after The Shard and 22 Bishopsgate in London. Although the scheme faced objections in July 2025 regarding the loss of retail options for existing residents,[7] approval was granted for the development in November 2025.[8]

The next tallest proposal is the 246-metre (807 ft) Nobu Manchester skyscraper, located in the central business district next to the completed Beetham Tower. This mixed-use residential and hotel tower will feature the luxury Nobu hotel brand. Planning approval was granted in spring 2025.[9]

The third-tallest proposal is the 213-metre (699 ft) Lighthouse, planned as the focal point of the New Jackson skyscraper district by the end of the decade. As of November 2025, the Lighthouse proposals have been released but have not yet been submitted for formal planning approval.[10] The New Jackson skyscraper district itself is still undergoing a major transformation. The 154-metre (505 ft) twin skyscrapers—Contour, Tower 1 and Contour, Tower 2—are currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2026. In addition to the Lighthouse, New Jackson has seen proposals for twin 172-metre (564 ft) 'Park Place' towers, as well as four towers under the 'Green' moniker—two planned at 154 metres and two at 141 metres (463 ft). When complete, the district will feature at least 12 skyscrapers above 150 metres (490 ft) and at least four more above 100 metres (330 ft).

Another new area for skyscrapers currently under construction is Trinity Islands in the Castlefield district. A 183-metre (600 ft) tower, Vista River Gardens Tower 1, is currently being built alongside its twin, the 169-metre (554 ft) Vista River Gardens Tower 2, which recently completed. These towers will be joined by the 146-metre (479 ft) Vista River Gardens Tower 3 and the 120-metre (390 ft) Vista River Gardens Tower 4.

The existing Greengate skyscraper district, which as of November 2025 features four towers over 100 metres, is set to be expanded with at least three more towers, including the 123-metre (404 ft) Parkside. Although planning approval was granted in 2023, the construction schedule for Parkside has yet to be announced.

Another new neighbourhood in the north of the city—Victoria North—will also transform Manchester by the end of the decade, delivering 15,000 homes and accommodating over 40,000 new residents. Part of this area will be Red Bank, a new skyscraper district featuring several towers, including a proposal for a 181-metre (594 ft) skyscraper.[11]

Outside these wider masterplans, there is a plethora of towers under construction, approved, or proposed throughout the city that are set to reshape the skyline over the next 10 years. Notable examples include the new Manchester United stadium, which will feature 200-metre (660 ft) masts,[12] and St Michael's—a 144-metre (472 ft) tower currently under construction that will house the luxury W Hotel brand and is scheduled for completion in 2027.

If all future proposals as of November 2025 come to fruition, Greater Manchester could contain nearly 400 buildings over 50 m (160 ft) tall, as well as 73 high-rises above 100 m (330 ft) and 26 skyscrapers above 150 m (490 ft). Each of these figures are substantially higher than anywhere else in the UK outside of London.

In a European context, only six cities currently have more than 10 completed skyscrapers over 150 metres: Moscow (111), Istanbul (52), London (43), Paris (24), Frankfurt (20), and Warsaw (17). Manchester is expected to join them by the end of 2025, becoming the seventh-tallest city in Europe. If all current proposals are realised, the Manchester city region will have 26 skyscrapers over 150 metres—surpassed by only three of those cities.

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Tallest buildings

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This list ranks structurally complete buildings and free-standing structures in Greater Manchester that stand at least 50 m (160 ft) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts.

An equals sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed. Buildings that have been demolished are not included.

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Tallest under construction or proposed

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Under construction

This lists buildings that are under construction in Greater Manchester and are planned to rise at least 50 metres (160 ft). Buildings appear on this list when each project reaches the stage of a piling rig being used on site. Buildings under construction that have been topped out and are externally complete are listed above and are classed as completed.

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Approved

This list includes buildings that have gained planning approval from the relevant council authority in Greater Manchester and are planned to rise at least 50 metres (160 ft).

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Proposed

This lists buildings that are proposed for construction in Greater Manchester and are planned to rise at least 50 metres (160 ft). If proposed projects are not approved within five years of their proposal date they are assumed to be no longer active and considered 'unbuilt', unless further information is available.

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Tallest unbuilt

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Unbuilt

This lists proposals for the construction of buildings in Greater Manchester that were planned to rise at least 50 metres (160 ft), for which planning permission was rejected or which were otherwise withdrawn.

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Demolished

This lists buildings and structures in Greater Manchester that were at least 50 metres (164 ft) tall and have since been demolished.

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Timeline of tallest buildings and structures

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After a period after the 1960s building boom where few new significant buildings were built in Greater Manchester, the early 21st century has seen a long list of proposals meaning the skyline has been transformed in recent decades. The first towers over 100 m (330 ft) were the CIS Tower and the City Tower, the former of which kept the title of tallest building in Greater Manchester for 44 years until the Beetham Tower was completed in 2006. In 2018 Deansgate Square South Tower became the tallest building in Greater Manchester and the tallest in the UK outside London.

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Future tallest

This lists the top 23 buildings in order of height in Greater Manchester that are either completed, under construction, approved or proposed. The imminent transformation of the Manchester and Salford skylines is made clear with only six of the top 23 buildings already completed, with three under construction, five approved, and nine proposed as of April 2025.

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Total buildings by borough

Each building is only included once e.g. Deansgate South Tower is included in the ≥200m column but not in the ≥150m column.

Updated 11 June 2025

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See also

References

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