Plans Lodged for Lord Street, Manchester

Our proposals for a 24-storey residential block have been submitted to Manchester City Council with the aim to bring 251 new homes to the Green Quarter.

Plans include four townhouses and seven homes that will be adaptable for residents with additional needs, such as apartments for wheelchair users.

Submitted by Enabl on behalf of Linear Living, the  scheme will regenerate a long-vacant site bounded by Cheetham Hill Road, Lord Street and Fernie Street. Dubbed ‘One Lord Street’, it will be the developer’s first venture into the city centre.

The site previously held retail and commercial units fronting Cheetham Hill Road, which have been partially demolished.

Public consultation on the proposals began in December 2025, with a second event held in February 2026.

Subject to planning approval, Linear Living anticipates work commencing on site before the end of 2026, with completion targeted for early 2029.

The land sits adjacent to the Strangeways and Cambridge Strategic Regeneration Framework (SPR) area, a joint initiative by Manchester and Salford councils aiming to deliver long-term regeneration.

The framework outlines plans for the delivery of more than 7000 new homes, as well as a public realm and employment spaces, over the next 30 years.

Two residential schemes located directly opposite Linear Living’s site have already been given the green light. The developer has undertaken precedent analysis of these to assess the layout, scale and massing, with plans for One Lord Street complementing the emerging townscape.

The building’s height and massing respond carefully to the surrounding context. A predominantly red brick façade, accented with stone and precast detailing, draws on the area’s historic character. Ground and first-floor setbacks create a colonnaded frontage, encouraging active street-level engagement.

Practical design considerations were embedded throughout. The façade minimises projections and is designed for drone-based cleaning, reducing the need for abseiling or roof access and ensuring long-term maintainability.

The main block maximises dual-aspect apartments and open-plan layouts for modern, adaptable living, whilst the townhouses at ground level engage directly with Lord Street.

Residents will have access to a communal lounge and adjoining roof terrace on the 15th floor – with three apartments on the same level also benefiting from private terraces.

Phil Hepworth, Director at AEW Architects, said: “Located at the northern gateway into Manchester City Centre, Lord Street presented a unique opportunity to complete the Green Quarter and shape a key arrival point into the city.

“Sustainability, connectivity and quality of life were the guiding principles throughout our ambition to create a design that balances ambition with context, enhances the streetscape, complements the Green Quarter and responds sensitively to its surroundings.”

Stephen Holmes, CEO of Linear Living, added: “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. 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.”

Read the full project case study here.