Plans approved for tallest UK tower outside London

Plans for the UK's tallest skyscraper outside of London have been approved for Manchester.

The 76-storey tower, planned by developer Salboy for the city centre, will stand at 246m high (807ft) and include 452 flats and a 160-bed hotel.

It is one of two new high-rise buildings proposed by the firm, with a smaller 23-storey tower also approved by Manchester City Council.

Simon Ismail, managing director of Salboy, said the development would "shape Manchester's skyline for years to come".

Salboy previously said the 76-storey tower would become the tallest residential building in Western Europe.

A spokesman for the developer said the flats would be "luxury residences" aimed at meeting demand for "high-quality accommodation for the international city's residents and visitors".

Meanwhile the smaller building would include 133 affordable apartments, he added.

Mr Ismail said the firm was "delighted" with the approval and said the scheme, known as Viadux 2, would help meet the "substantial need" for accommodation at different price points and tenure types.

The developer, founded in 2014 by BetFred owner Fred Done is behind many of the high-rise developments across Salford and Manchester.

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