It’s been a fixture since the 50s
17:58, 23 Oct 2025Updated 17:58, 23 Oct 2025
How the flats and offices, set to be built on the site of Albert Bridge House, could look(Image: Oval)
A historic Manchester tower will be demolished to make way for skyscrapers complete with ‘saunas and ice baths’ — but no affordable flats.
Albert Bridge House, an 18-storey office block which opened in 1959 as one of the city’s tallest buildings, will be knocked down after developers Oval won planning permission from Manchester council to replace it with two skyscrapers, 37 and 49 storeys tall on Thursday (October 23).
That was despite councillors hitting out at the 800-home project for not containing a single affordable home.
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“If we were going to recommit this commercial footprint I would have liked affordable properties,” said Liberal Democrat Coun Richard Kilpatrick.
“It’s very frustrating when we can see some of the amenities like a sauna and ice baths but we cannot deliver affordable [housing].”
Oval was initially given planning permission for a smaller scheme on the same site, but revised its proposal to include far more affordable units.
Labour Coun Dave Rawson added: “The other things are great and that’s nice.
“But we cannot make a contribution to social housing. I am extremely disappointed.”
Before councillors made their comments, Oval’s James Craig said the buildings will bring the city other benefits.
Albert Bridge House
“It’s an exciting prospect for Manchester,” he said. “Significant market changes have necessitated an updated approach. These new plans are more viable and more deliverable.
“They unlock economic opportunities and improved public realm
“An area that’s historically been inaccessible will now see a connection between the city and river. Albert Bridge Square will be a dynamic place that’s alive from morning to evening.”
The town hall meeting also saw councillors refuse one application, something which rarely happens at the planning committee.
They rejected a move to allow 258 bedrooms to be used in the summer months at a to-be-constructed student accommodation block on Upper Brook Street.
An agent for developers McLaren said the firm has ‘£100m’ of funding available that is ‘prohibited by a planning commitment’ which could be released by allowing ‘35pc of bedrooms to be let out of term time’.
Ardwick residents fought against the 23-storey student block, ultimately seeing the council approving development but restricting its use to limit ‘disamenity’, Coun Paul Andrews said.
(Image: Views)
“Why would we amend this for anything other than finance?,” he asked. ““I believe this condition was in place because we accepted the complaints argument on disamenity.
“They would have a break from the disamenity they suffered [out of term time]. I have not seen anything today to ease that disamenity.”
Other applications, such as building 106 homes on Hinchley Road in Charlestown, 66 houses on the former Burnage Cricket Club, allowing more flats to be built next to Mancunian Way at Arundel Street, were approved.