Relentless Plans Two Manchester Towers at St Mary’s Parsonage 2026

Key Points

• Mixed-use towers for Relentless Developments have been put forward by EPR Architects in the area of St Mary’s Parsonage in Manchester. The development aims to demolish the previous Alberton House building and rebuild on the site of the existing Cardinal House tower a mixed-use development of two towers rising up to 43 and 33 storeys tall.
• The total number of apartments and offices that will be built is 434 and 172 hotel rooms along with 135,000 square feet of office space. The 43-storey building will be built at the site of the previous Alberton House and will include the residential apartments and office space, while the 33-storey tower will be constructed at the Cardinal House and will include hotels and flats.
• It is proposed to create a pedestrian connection from St Mary’s Parsonage to the River Irwell where there will also be a provision of restaurants and other commercial properties. Public consultation has been announced and will last until 1 December 2026, after which a planning application will be submitted to Manchester City Council. Public sessions will take place on 17 and 18 November 2026 at Manchester Hall, Bridge Street.
• Relentless was founded by Gary Neville and Anthony Kilbride in 2015. The proposed development is part of Relentless’s overall plans in the areas of St Mary’s Parsonage and Kendals along with its St Michael’s development.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) November 14, 2026 — EPR Architects has unveiled plans for two mixed-use towers in Manchester city centre for Relentless Developments, the company co-founded by former Manchester United and England footballer Gary Neville and Anthony Kilbride. As reported by Gino Spocchia of The Architects’ Journal, the proposals would create towers of 32 and 42 storeys, although other industry reports describe the buildings as rising to 43 and 33 storeys.

The scheme is proposed for St Mary’s Parsonage, close to the River Irwell and Santiago Calatrava’s Trinity Footbridge. It would involve the demolition of the vacant Alberton House and the existing Cardinal House buildings, making way for the two towers and a podium building that would provide access from St Mary’s Passage to the riverside.

As reported by Building Design, Relentless has opened a consultation on proposals to replace Alberton House and Cardinal House with two towers of 43 and 33 storeys. The publication stated that the development would deliver 434 new homes, 172 hotel rooms and approximately 12,657 sq m of “high-quality office space”.

How Many Homes and Hotel Rooms Are Proposed?

The proposals include 434 homes across the two towers, together with a 172-room hotel. Place North West, reported by Dan Whelan, said the 43-storey building on the former Alberton House site would provide the majority of the homes and 135,000 sq ft of office space, while the 33-storey Cardinal House tower would contain the hotel and further apartments.

The Architects’ Journal reported that the taller tower is intended for offices and flats, while the shorter tower would contain more flats and the hotel. Food and beverage uses are proposed for the river-facing ground floors of both towers.

The earlier scoping-stage proposals, reported by Julia Hatmaker of Place North West on 30 October, had outlined 434 apartments, 172 hotel rooms, 136,200 sq ft of offices and 8,700 sq ft of flexible commercial space. At that stage, the buildings were described as potentially reaching 35 and 46 storeys.

What Would Happen to Alberton House and Cardinal House?

The scheme would replace two existing or former buildings at St Mary’s Parsonage: Alberton House and Cardinal House. Alberton House has already been cleared, while Cardinal House would be demolished under the current proposals.

Planning permission to demolish the 1970s Alberton House and replace it with an office building was granted in 2022, but construction did not take place. As reported by Building Design, Relentless said that permission had established the principle of redeveloping the site for a substantial commercial development.

Relentless acquired the Alberton House plot from Bruntwood, which had previously secured consent for an 18-storey office project that was never built, according to Place North West.

How Would the Development Change the Riverside Area?

The plans include a pedestrian link from the historic St Mary’s Parsonage area to the River Irwell. The two towers would be separated by a walkway connecting Parsonage to the riverside, with shops, restaurants and other commercial uses proposed at ground level.

The Architects’ Journal reported that the scheme includes improved landscaping and public realm on the site. It said the podium building would provide access from St Mary’s Passage to the riverside.

Relentless said the proposals would address parts of the area it described as “underused and disconnected”, with inactive building frontages and pedestrian routes that could be clearer and more welcoming. The company said the development would open up the site towards the River Irwell and make better use of spaces alongside it, as reported by Manchester Evening News.

What Has Relentless Said About the Plans?

As reported by Building Design, Relentless said: “Considering Alberton House alongside Cardinal House creates an opportunity to take a more coordinated approach to their future, exploring how development, public spaces and pedestrian connections could work together while responding to the area’s heritage and wider regeneration.”

Manchester Evening News reported that Relentless Developments said it had also discussed its proposals with Manchester City Council. The company said consultation responses would be used to inform a planning application to be submitted to the council in due course.

Place North West reported that Anthony Kilbride said the development had similarities with St Michael’s, Relentless’s mixed-use project off Jacksons Row, which includes offices, apartments, a hotel and restaurants.

When Can Residents Comment on the Plans?

The public consultation opened on 12 November 2026 and will run until Tuesday, 1 December 2026. Residents can respond online, while public drop-in sessions are scheduled at Manchester Hall in Bridge Street on Tuesday, 17 November, and Wednesday, 18 November.

Manchester Evening News reported that the drop-in sessions would take place on 17 November from 11.30am to 3pm and on 18 November from 3.30pm to 7pm.

Relentless is hopeful of submitting a planning application before the end of the year, according to Place North West. Construction Enquirer reported that a planning application is expected to follow the consultation.

Who Is Behind the Manchester Tower Scheme?

Relentless Developments was founded by Gary Neville and Anthony Kilbride in 2015. The company has previously worked on projects in Manchester, including Hotel Football and St Michael’s, a mixed-use development off Jacksons Row.

EPR Architects is leading the design. According to Place North West, the wider project team includes Zerum as planning lead, alongside Rbmp, Urban Green, Redmore Environmental, Civic, ERAP, Curtins, Jameson Acoustics, Buro Happold, Levrant Heritage Architecture, GIA and Gtech Surveys.

What Happens Next in the Planning Process?

The current consultation is not a grant of planning permission. It is a pre-application consultation intended to gather feedback before Relentless submits a formal planning application to Manchester City Council.

Once an application is submitted, Manchester City Council would carry out its own statutory consultation and determine the proposals through the normal planning process. The developer’s expected timetable for submission before the end of 2026 is not a commitment that permission will be granted.

Background of the Development

St Mary’s Parsonage sits between Spinningfields and the River Irwell in Manchester city centre. Relentless has interests in the Kendal Milne building and Reedham House in the wider area, and the proposed towers form part of its broader regeneration ambitions for the district.

The site has already been the subject of earlier redevelopment proposals. Bruntwood secured planning permission in 2022 for an 18-storey office and leisure scheme at Alberton House, but the project was not built.

Relentless submitted a scoping report to Manchester City Council in late October 2026. At that stage, the proposals were described as including two towers of up to 35 and 46 storeys, with an anticipated completion period between 2031 and 2034 if approved.

Prediction: How Could This Affect Manchester Residents and Businesses?

If approved and built, the development could increase the supply of city-centre homes, hotel rooms and office space in the St Mary’s Parsonage area. For residents, the 434 proposed homes could add housing choice close to Spinningfields, Deansgate and the River Irwell, although the eventual affordability, tenure and delivery timetable would depend on the final planning application and market conditions.

For local businesses, the proposed ground-floor restaurants, cafés, shops and other commercial uses could increase footfall and activity around the riverside route. The plans also propose a new pedestrian connection between St Mary’s Parsonage and the River Irwell, which could change how people move through the area.

For nearby residents and businesses, the consultation period provides an opportunity to comment on issues including building height, construction disruption, public space, heritage, transport, riverside access and the balance between homes, offices and visitor accommodation. The proposals remain at consultation stage, so no construction or planning decision has yet been confirmed.