How Manchester is set to become one of Europe's tallest cities

A recent report has found that Manchester is on track to become Europe's fourth-tallest city by 2030. This is dependent on a number of projects in the pipeline that would have to go ahead for the threshold to be met.

Currently sitting in seventh place, it highlights Manchester's exponential growth over the last decade. The city's upward growth is a direct result of the city's successful economic foundations below.

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Where does Manchester currently stand?

The report was carried out by Barbour API, one of the UK’s leading providers of construction market intelligence, data and project leads.

Manchester now sits in seventh place; the scale is determined by the number of buildings in a city that are over 50m, 100m and 150m. If the current approved schemes are successfully carried out, it would result in 200 towers over 50m and 10 over 150m.

This would take Manchester into fourth place, overtaking Paris and Frankfurt and only one place behind the capital, London. 

To put the recent growth into perspective, the tallest tower was for a long time Beetham Tower, which was completed in 2006, standing at 168m. It took over 10 years for that to be overtaken in 2018 with Deansgate South Tower (201m).

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Why is the city growing so much?

Manchester's development over the last decade has been formidable; the skyline has transformed itself, and the city's footprint has begun to expand significantly.

The skyline's drastic change is largely due to the relatively low cost of land in Manchester, which enables developers to build on sites cost-effectively, as suggested by Barbour ABI’s Ed Griffiths. 

However, this can't be executed without there being a demand, but for Manchester, there definitely is. There has been a huge influx of young professionals looking to rent in the city, which gives developers confidence in building high-rise residential towers.‍

"The centre of Manchester is relatively small in comparison to London (or indeed Birmingham, which Manchester has more high-rises planned than before 2030), so there is a need to build upwards rather than outwards, attracting high-rise residential developers to the region", says Ed Griffiths.

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What's next to come?

Manchester's tallest project was approved in April of last year, and the scheme will become the tallest tower in the UK outside of London once completed.

The Nobu Tower will stand at 246m high, comprising 76 storeys, including 452 flats and a 160-bed hotel. This will mark a huge chapter in the city's global footprint, as it houses a luxury branded residence.

Other noticeable projects include:

Viadux Phase 2, a £600m project rising over 76 storeys that will contain 915 apartments.

The Lighthouse 642 apartments in a 71-storey tower on Great Jackson Street (scheduled for completion in May 2029) will add to the ever-growing New Jackson District.

Manchester Innovation District Sister Plot C (£162m) – a joint partnership between the University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech to create a flagship flexible working space with civic square.

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The impact it's had on Manchester 

The rise of the city, paired with a sustained demand, has resulted in a very healthy rental market, with prices climbing steadily. The average monthly rent in Manchester reached £1,317, a 5.1% increase year-on-year (ONS, 2026).

Manchester has created the perfect investment hub with high rental yields, huge regeneration and massive demand from a young professional population.

If you would like to benefit from this and want to begin or expand your portfolio, contact us today, where one of our dedicated investment advisors will be happy to help.