A prominent UK developer is making its first move into the heart of Manchester with plans for a major residential tower in the increasingly popular Green Quarter, signalling continued confidence in the city’s housing market.
Linear Living, the property development arm of the nationwide Linear Group, has submitted proposals to Manchester City Council for a 24-storey building providing 251 new homes on a long-vacant plot known as One Lord Street. The site, bounded by Cheetham Hill Road, Lord Street, and Fernie Street, was previously occupied by shops and business units that have been partially demolished.
Expansion and Design
The scheme represents a significant step for Linear Living, which until now has operated on the city’s periphery. The company’s CEO, Stephen Holmes, pointed to the recent completion of its £34 million Trafford Gardens scheme as a foundation for this city-centre expansion. That project, a 13-storey block near Old Trafford, involved 33 affordable homes purchased by Irwell Valley Homes and a further 116 for private sale, after Linear Living acquired the site from a developer that had entered administration.
“Submitting plans for One Lord Street represents a significant milestone for Linear Living as we expand into Manchester city centre,” Mr Holmes said. “We see this as a gateway scheme, with the opportunity to make a strong architectural statement while contributing to the wider regeneration of the Green Quarter.”
The proposed tower, designed by Aew Architects with planning advice from Enabl, would be taller and denser than a previous permission for the site, which was for a 16-storey block with 190 apartments. Alongside the apartments, the plans include four townhouses and, notably, seven homes designed to be adaptable for residents with additional needs, such as wheelchair-user apartments.
This focus on accessibility aligns with broader city ambitions. Manchester City Council’s “Design for Access 2” manual aims to make the city the most accessible in Europe, and there is advocacy for 10% of new housing to meet high wheelchair-accessible standards.
A Neighbourhood in Flux
The One Lord Street site sits at the edge of a vast transformation area. It is adjacent to the boundary of the Strangeways and Cambridge Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF), a 30-year joint project by Manchester and Salford Councils that aims to deliver over 7,000 homes, business spaces, and a public park. The SRF, adopted by both councils in late 2025, seeks to address long-standing issues including counterfeit crime, poor-quality buildings, and flood risk.
The Green Quarter itself, a short walk from Victoria Station and the AO Arena, has been rebranded and regenerated over the past two decades from what was described as a “derelict wasteland” into a “self-contained urban oasis” of apartment blocks, green spaces, and amenities popular with young professionals.
Development pressure is intense. Directly opposite the One Lord Street plot, two other major residential schemes have already gained permission: Clarion’s Brewery Gardens (505 homes) and Salboy’s Waterhouse Gardens (556 homes). Linear Living has stated it analysed these adjacent projects to inform the scale and massing of its own proposal.
Historical Context and Future Timeline
The proposed tower rises from a historically rich but much-altered streetscape. Cheetham Hill Road, formerly York Street, was a wealthy 19th-century suburb and later a centre for Manchester’s Jewish community and industry. While much of its original character has been lost to 20th-century development, notable buildings like the former Cheetham Town Hall and the Church of St Chad remain.
For the new development, public consultations were held in December 2025 and February 2026. Linear Living hopes to begin work on site before the end of 2026, subject to council approval, with a target completion date of early 2029.
Mr Holmes emphasised the company’s approach, stating: “Working with an experienced project team, we have developed designs that are commercially-viable and aligned with the long-term vision for the area. Subject to approval, we look forward to bringing forward a high-quality scheme that adds lasting value to this part of Manchester.”
