Work begins on £154m Manchester skyscraper

Construction work is now underway on one of the biggest build-to-rent projects in the UK.

Property business Moda Living and investment manager Apache Capital Partners have chosen building firm Carillion to deliver Angel Gardens, a 36-storey tower in the city’s £800m 20-acre NOMA development.

The £154m scheme will create 520,000 sq ft of space across 466 apartments and 22,000 sq ft of commercial space opposite Manchester Victoria.

On-site amenities will include a gym, cinema, lounges, co-working spaces, restaurants, shops and a multi-use health and wellbeing roof terrace.

Manchester City Council Leader Sir Richard Leese said: “Having the right balance of housing is crucial to the continuing growth and success of Manchester and high quality private rented sector options are an important part of this mix.

“NOMA is establishing itself as a vibrant new neighbourhood and helping breathe new life into the northern fringes of the city centre.”

Co-op executive and director of NOMA, Alistair Asher, commented: “High-quality residential is central to our vision of creating a true work-live-play community in the NOMA neighbourhood.

“Moda Living will play a crucial role in delivering that vision by providing high quality homes for rent a stone’s throw from Manchester Victoria Station.”

Carillion’s North West operations director, John Currie, said: “We are pleased to be working with Moda Living to carry out this prestigious development.

“Carillion has a strong presence in Manchester and has delivered several major projects in the city, which have created jobs, training opportunities for young people and supported local suppliers.”

He added: “The construction of Angel Gardens will continue in this vein and have a lasting impact in the city.”

Earlier this week, Harrogate-based Moda announced an £85m deal with European specialist bank pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank to fund the delivery of Angel Gardens.

Moda Living MD Tony Brooks said: “Angel Gardens will be a jewel in the Manchester skyline and make a significant contribution to the city’s housing needs through the provision of high quality rental homes.

“Keeping Manchester attractive to today’s footloose professionals who value both flexibility and security will be crucial to the city’s future growth and we’re hugely excited to be part of the NOMA neighbourhood.”

Angel Gardens is the first residential skyscraper to be delivered outside of London since the fiscal crisis.

It is the first scheme to be delivered by Moda and Apache, coming ahead of similar residential projects in Liverpool, Leeds and elsewhere in the UK that will ultimately deliver over 5,000 build-to-rent homes.

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