Tucked between some of Manchester’s busiest roads, the Stockton’s project will deliver two striking towers that blend residential and office spaces to create a welcome addition to Manchester’s skyline. With block A to stand at 52 storeys and Block B at 27, the buildings will deliver hundreds of new apartments and around 25,000 square feet of office space.
So far, we’ve laid the groundwork required to ensure the project overcomes on-site constraints.
Background and design overview
Stocktons occupies a historic industrial plot close to Great Ancoats Street, Store Street, and Ducie Street. Block A features a dramatic “drawer” design on select floors, incorporating double-height terraces and a range of residential amenities. Meanwhile, Block B is planned to host offices on the lower floors and residential units above. Both buildings incorporate basement levels for plant and storage, and the entire structure relies on a reinforced concrete (RC) superstructure for durability and ease of construction.
At renaissance, we approach every scheme by solving the right problems in the right way. Even though this project is still in its early RIBA Stage 2 phase, our team has been busy ensuring Stocktons’ concept design is not only structurally sound but also flexible enough to respond to inevitable changes as the design progresses.
Site constraints
The culvert crossing the site
One of the biggest quirks of the Stocktons site is a culverted watercourse meandering underneath what will be the new towers. Originally open and later diverted underground, this waterway places strict limits on where foundations can go and how basements can be arranged. Our engineers have worked to accommodate the culvert, planning foundations that avoid it and leaving space (easements) to protect it from damage. This means cleverly positioned piles and offset footings that respect both the watercourse and local authority requirements.
Proximity to busy roads
Construction in a bustling city centre often means dealing with roads, buried utilities, and public footpaths that must stay operational and safe. At Stocktons, we’ve proposed a contiguous piled wall around the basement levels, which helps shore up the ground and prevent any movement under neighbouring roads. Because this work will take place close to main routes through the city, we’ll go through an Approval in Principle (AIP) process with Manchester City Council to ensure everything meets the highest safety standards.
Handling a sloping site
The site itself slopes from northeast to southwest, demanding a stepped foundation strategy. Put simply, some piles and retaining walls will need to be set higher or lower than others to match the site’s changing ground levels. This approach keeps excavation depths sensible and ensures the buildings integrate well with the surrounding streetscape.
Proposed engineering approach
Although the site has its fair share of challenges, the overall engineering solution remains straightforward and efficient. Both buildings will be built with reinforced concrete frames, each stabilised by a robust central core. In Block A, we’re adding wing walls to stiffen the building further, given its extra height. By standardising column layouts and opting for flat slabs, we can help reduce construction complexity and be more efficient with material usage.
Sustainability considerations
We’re at the concept design stage, so precise calculations of embodied carbon are still around the corner. Even so, our approach prioritises methods that naturally reduce carbon. Reinforced concrete remains a practical choice for tall structures, especially when combined with careful design detailing. Flattening out slab designs, streamlining columns, and planning for a more straightforward construction phase will all contribute to a lower carbon footprint down the line.
We’re also exploring a blue roof system, which can help manage stormwater by storing rain on the roof before slowly releasing it. With the site’s history of heavy industrial use, it’s a good way to ease pressure on local drainage networks and mitigate surface-water flood risks. Once we move into the more detailed design stages, we’ll refine these ideas to ensure they deliver maximum environmental benefit.
Conclusion
While still in the early days (RIBA Stage 2), Stocktons shows enormous potential to transform this corner of Manchester with two standout towers. By tackling challenges like the underground culvert, nearby highways, and shifting ground levels right from the start, we’re laying the groundwork for an efficient, sustainable, and striking development.
We’re always driven to think deeply about design, reduce waste, and solve the right problems, and Stocktons exemplifies that approach. We look forward to guiding the scheme into its next phases.
All photography courtesy of Simpson Haugh
