Manchester building news: architecture designs

Manchester Building News

post updated 26 May 2026

Manchester Architectural Designs – chronological list

Manchester Architecture Walking Tours

Manchester Architecture Walking Tours – city walks

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Manchester Architecture News in 2026

Contemporary Mancunian architecture developments. Modern Northwest England property designs images, UK.

11 May 2026
Manchester Metropolitan University Library Building Design, All Saints, Oxford Road
Design: Hawkins\Brown + Schmidt Hammer Lassen

image courtesy of architects practice
Planning permission has been granted for a new library development at Manchester Metropolitan University, marking a significant step in the creation of a modern, future-focused learning environment at the centre of the University’s campus.

22 March 2026
No.1 Ancoats Green
Architect: Buttress Architects

photo : Gavin Stewart
Buttress Architects has completed No.1 Ancoats Green — the first development delivered through This City, Manchester City Council’s housing company — which won Build to Rent Development of the Year at the Insider Media North West Residential Property Awards 2026.

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Manchester Architecture News 2025

Manchester Architecture News in 2025

8 December 2025
Zedwell Hotel
Architect: Buttress Architects

photo : Buttress Architects

8 November 2025
Strangeways Manchester Regeneration

image courtesy of Manchester City Council
Building upon the feedback gathered from an extensive public consultation, Manchester and Salford City Councils are expected to endorse and approve the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the long-term transformation of the Strangeways and Cambridge areas.

20 October 2025
Piccadilly Gardens Manchester Renewal
Urban landscape: LDA Design

image courtesy of LDA Design for Manchester City Council
Plans are underway to significantly improve the appearance of Piccadilly Gardens and make it a more welcoming, sociable space.

6 October 2025

Peel Park Pavilion – Salford Building News

Manchester’s Architecture Unknown Named ‘Architect of the Year’ at the 2025 Structural Timber Awards

photo courtesy of architects office

Architecture Unknown is celebrating after being crowned ‘Architect of the Year’ at the Structural Timber Awards 2025, held on Wednesday 1st October at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham.

The practice was recognised for its work on the Peel Park Pavilion in Little Hulton, Salford – a £950k regeneration project delivered in partnership with Community Little Hulton charity.

The pavilion has been hailed as Salford’s first ultra-low-carbon, community-constructed building. Built using Magpie – Architecture Unknown’s version of the WikiHouse modular system – the project is one of the greenest in the city, combining high sustainability standards with hands-on community involvement.

‘WikiHouse’ is cleverly jointed pieces of plywood that essentially fit together like a giant jigsaw. Each section of the design is cut and crafted and delivered like Ikea-flat pack furniture ready to build. Essentially it means the design could be built by the whole community.

Over the course of the build, more than 100 local volunteers took part, including 60 pupils from the Lowry Academy and St Edmunds RC School. Together, they helped to create a vibrant new space featuring a park café, offices, meeting rooms, and even a BMX pump track.

Director of Architecture Unknown, Daniel Kelso, said: “We are ecstatic to have won ‘Architect of the Year’, to be honest it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. This award means the world to us because Peel Park Pavilion is a project close to our hearts. It embodies our ideals of community-led architecture – not only delivering a sustainable building but giving local people, especially young people, the chance to literally construct their own future.”

He added: “Winning this award shows that community projects matter. They have the power to create positive outcomes far beyond the physical structure. To see this approach recognised on a national stage is hugely encouraging, and we hope it inspires more projects of a similar nature.”

The Pavilion is already proving a valuable community hub, providing youth cafés, toddler sessions, craft groups, food clubs, and wider services for families. It represents a milestone for Community Little Hulton, which has been working to improve the lives of young people and residents in the area.

The project would not have been possible without the collaboration of ING Engineering, Construction Solutions, Ian Grindey, and funding support from the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation.

The awards evening also proved a success for Manchester’s architectural community, with fellow NSPF member Progress in Practice Ltd, led by Hannah Dixon, taking home three awards.

The Structural Timber Awards 2025 once again showcased the strength, innovation, and creativity of the UK timber construction sector.

Architecture Unknown is a Manchester-based practise founded by Charlie Butterwick and Daniel Kelso. Projects and clients include Ford Park Community Centre, Ulverston and 2nd Whalley Range Scout Hut.

Architects Charlie Butterwick and Daniel Kelso met at the University of Manchester founding their practice in 2016.

19 September 2025

Light Forms: The Renold Building, Manchester – An Iconic Building Reimagined

Leading lighting manufacturer Light Forms has contributed bespoke and sustainable lighting solutions to the refurbishment of Manchester’s iconic Renold Building, a project delivered for Bruntwood SciTech with interior design by the award-winning agency SpaceInvader.

The Renold Building is a striking example of modernist architecture and has newly been granted Grade II listing status, 20 years after its initial application. In the course of this project, the building’s interior has been transformed into a vibrant centre for community, business, and innovation, championing material innovation, creative reuse, and a strong sustainable ethos. The project reflects the building’s legacy as an educational space while looking to the future, providing co-working, office space, and meeting facilities.

For this project, Light Forms created a series of truly unique lighting solutions that reflect the building’s sustainable and innovative spirit. Eighty bespoke cardboard tube pendants were designed specifically for the project, forming a key feature that emphasises the circular design approach. In addition, disused fluorescent tubes found in a storage area on site were repurposed into striking feature pendants, while old metal shade pendants, discovered tucked away under the stairs, were refurbished and reinstated to take pride of place. Light Forms Lightrod 80 fittings were utilised in both suspended and wall-mounted versions, providing versatile and elegant illumination, while Tin Can pendants were incorporated in circulation areas to complement the building’s industrial aesthetics.
Through these installations, Light Forms has helped to breathe new life into the Renold Building – blending creativity and sustainability to illuminate a space that celebrates both its history and its future.

Paul Shoosmith, Director at Light Forms, said, “Working on the Renold Building allowed us to celebrate its heritage while embracing sustainability and creativity. It was the perfect project to showcase what bespoke lighting can achieve. Every piece created was designed specifically for this space, from cardboard tube pendants to repurposed materials, making the lighting as distinctive and innovative as the building itself.”

Project Credits
Sister – Manchester’s new innovation district
Interior Design – SpaceInvader
Contractors – Overbury
Electrical Contractors – E&ES
Lighting – designed and supplied by Light Forms
Photography – Mike Dinsdale

5 September 2025
Manchester Local Plan Review

image courtesy of architects practice
A draft Local Plan that will help guide development and growth in Manchester over the next fifteen years will be considered by the Council’s executive committee on 10 September ahead of public consultation later this month.

5 September 2025
Haute Dolci at No.1 Deansgate

image courtesy of Haute Dolci

31 July 2025
Mayfield Park Development
Design: architects Studio Egret West and shedkm

image : Assembly Studios

11 April 2025
Whitworth Street West Residential Tower
Architect: Sheppard Robson

image : Sheppard Robson

11 March 2025
New Man United 100,000-capacity Stadium
Manchester United have announced plans to build the biggest stadium in the UK, – an “iconic” new £2bn 100,000-seater ground close to Old Trafford:
Manchester United New Stadium building

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Manchester Architecture News 2024

Manchester Architecture News in 2024

17 December 2024

New Recruit For Manchester’s Architecture Unknown

Ancoats-based architecture practice ‘Architecture Unknown’ is to expand its team ahead of 2025 to its tackle its growing portfolio.

Alice Allen of Architecture Unknown:

photo courtesy of architects office

Alice Allen joins the business as an Architectural Assistant and will be working on projects across the North of England, including Wibsey Community Gardens.

Alice joins Architecture Unknown from Manchester School of Architecture after graduating with a master’s in architecture, achieving a distinction.

Previously Alice completed her part one placement working at Loop Systems continuing to work part time for the business while completing her studies.

Architecture Unknown was founded by Charlie Butterwick and Daniel Kelso in 2016. The Manchester practice specialises in community-lead architecture; projects include Community Little Hulton’s ‘The Peel Park Pavilion in Salford and Whalley Range Scout Hut, in South Manchester.

The team are specialists in designing and building using WikiHouse. WikiHouse is a low-cost, sustainable and simple solution for construction, allowing you to build whilst retaining a high level of quality – perfect for community focused projects.

Speaking about her new role with Architecture Unknown, Alice Allen said: “Architecture at its best is about community empowerment and collaborative design. My work, both in university and in practice aims to create spaces that reflect the diverse need and aspirations of local people.

“Architecture Unknown puts community at the heart of all its passion projects, it aims to foster a sense of local ownership and strives to get into the DNA of an area. The practice felt a natural fit, and the new role gives me the opportunity to work on meaningful projects in the heart of communities.”

Daniel Kelso, Director of Architecture Unknown, said: “As we expand the team it’s important we get the right talent. We want people who challenge our perspective and bring fresh ideas – whilst sharing our passion for community-lead architecture.

“Alice has worked on some fantastic projects to date, and we are excited to have her join the team, bringing a new energy to the practice as we grow into 2025.”

11 November 2024

Centenary Building Demolition

The first building to win the RIBA Stirling Prize – Centenary Building for the University of Salford designed by Mancunian architect office Hodder Associates – is to be demolished, report the AJ.

The 29-year-old building has lain vacant for nearly a decade. The empty property is due to be flattened as part of the major redevelopment of the Adelphi Village area backed by the university, Salford City Council and the English City Fund.

Its only possible chance of survival is a listing bid. The Twentieth Century Society has submitted one.

29 August 2024
Manchester Piccadilly aparthotel building, Gore Street / Chatham Street – at the former Union Bank building
Design: Bennetts Associates

image © Visual Planit
Proposas for the development of a landmark 251-bed aparthotel offering high-quality accommodation and public facilities in the centre of the city have been approved by Manchester City Council.