Bridgewater Heights

Bridgewater Heights[6] (also known as Liberty Heights,[6] Wakefield Street Tower,[7] or 17 New Wakefield Street) is a skyscraper apartment building in Manchester, England, west of Oxford Street. It was designed by local architect Stephen Hodder in a clustered architectural form and was completed in September 2012. The skyscraper is situated adjacent to Oxford Road railway station, on the corner of Great Marlborough Street. The skyscraper is 37 storeys high at a height of 106 m (348 ft) and as of 2023 is the 17th-tallest building in Greater Manchester.[8][9]

Bridgewater Heights
The tower seen from Oxford Road, Manchester
Former namesLiberty Living
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeSkyscraper[1]
LocationGreat Marlborough Street,
Manchester,
Greater Manchester,
England
Construction started2010
CompletedSeptember 2012 [2]
OwnerLiberty Living
LandlordLiberty Living
Height
Roof106 m (348 ft)
Technical details
Floor count37[3]
Design and construction
Architect(s)Hodder and Partners
Main contractorShepherd Construction
Allied Developments
References
[4][5]

History
Night Side View

Four development schemes were proposed for the site in four years.[10] Plans for a 65 m (213 ft) residential tower were proposed in 2006 featuring a design similar to the tower being built.[11] However, despite obtaining planning approval, the proposal was abandoned. In December 2009, the project was revived with a plan for a 106 m (348 ft) residential tower.[10]

A planning application was made in early 2010,[12] and planning consent granted in July 2010.[13] Construction work began weeks after consent was granted.[8] By November 2011, the tower had risen in height considerably, and on 18 April 2012, the tower had its topping out ceremony at a height of 106 m.[14]

Upon opening, the building was named Student Castle, later renamed to Liberty Heights, and finally Bridgewater Heights.

Architecture

Bridgewater Heights is a residential development of high-rise flats aimed at young people and students. At 106 m (348 ft), it was the tallest purpose-built student accommodation in the world, until being overtaken by Altus House in Leeds, United Kingdom.[15] Its apparent height is accentuated slightly by its position on a slope.[10] The tower has some resemblance to the Mathematics Tower which also had a clustered exterior but was controversially demolished by the University of Manchester in 2005.[16]

The building has 525 bedrooms in four stepped towers built on a foot area of 7,000 sq ft (650 m2). Plans for a residents' car park were rejected by planners concerned about the impact of a large building and busy location.[13]

  • August 2011
    August 2011
  • December 2011
    December 2011
  • March 2012
    March 2012

References
  1. Under the Emporis Standards Committee, a skyscraper is defined as a multi-storey building which is at least 100m. Any building from 35m to 100m tall is generally considered to be a high rise building.
  2. "Great Marlborough Street progress". hodderandpartners. Hodder + Partners. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  3. "Manchester Floorplans". Student Castle. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  4. "17 New Wakefield Street". Skyscrapercity. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  5. "17 New Wakefield Street". Emporis. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  6. "Bridgewater Heights". unitestudents.com. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  7. N.B. It is not in Wakefield Street which is a short street parallel to New Wakefield Street north of the railway viaduct. New Wakefield Street runs from 88 Oxford Street to Great Marlborough Street.
  8. "New skyscraper planned for Manchester is also the tallest student accommodation in the UK by 4 floors". Manchester Confidential. 9 August 2010. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  9. "Liberty Heights". Skycraper Center. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  10. "Tallest Student Tower Planned In Manchester". skyscrapercity. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  11. "17 New Wakefield Street". skyscrapernews.com. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  12. "Allied/Connislow plan Oxford Road landmark". Place North West. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  13. "Allied/Connislow's 33-storey tower approved". Place North West. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  14. "Sleuth 12/04/2012". Manchester Confidential. 13 April 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  15. "New Record Student Tower Rises in Manc". skyscrapernews.com. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  16. "Student Castle: Good Work Mr Hodder". Manchester Confidential. 27 September 2012. Archived from the original on 11 December 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.

53.47340°N 2.24177°W / 53.47340; -2.24177

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