Manchester to get UK's tallest tower

Manchester looks set to be the home of the tallest residential block in Britain after planning permission was given for a 47-storey glass tower.

The £150m 157m tower above Deansgate was designed by Ian Simpson Architects, who was behind Urbis, one of the most striking recent buildings to be constructed in the city.

The Beetham Tower, as it will be known, will comprise 285 bedrooms and 219 flats and penthouses, 200 apartments and a five-star Hilton hotel. Work is scheduled to begin in February.

The tallest residential tower block in Britain is on the Barbican estate in London where the tallest building is 128m.