
Manchester and its neighbouring boroughs are gradually starting to get a new lease of life as building developments take shape, whether it be sparkly new skyscrapers or restoring key landmarks to their former glory or giving them a modern look. Ranging from towers complete with state of the art facilities to projects that see an entire town centre revitalised, we’ve rounded up some of the big developments happening in Greater Manchester in 2025 that are expected to change the region significantly.
Developments in Greater Manchester set to be complete in 2025
1. HOME Arches
One of the first developments in Greater Manchester to be completed in 2025 is HOME Arches. Work has almost finished on transforming three heritage railway arches in Manchester city centre into a talent development centre for artists, led by Manchester arts centre HOME, and it’s set to open in late January 2025. The new space will deliver 5,000 free hours of making, studio and development space for artists and creative freelancers, with space for residencies, supported co-working and networking opportunities, plus access to technical equipment and expertise. Plus, new exhibition space in the custom built Arches Windows will have the ability to present a range of work from sculptural to digital.
2. John Ryland’s Library
The gorgeous gothic John Rylands Library on Manchester’s Deansgate, is currently undergoing a refurbishment as part of the institute’s next chapter. The £7.6m project, which forms part of the Library’s Imagine2030 vision, will see The University of Manchester’s John Rylands Research Institute and Library transformed to enhance its contribution to research, student experience and public engagement. Improvements have been taking place since February 2024, with the first phase now complete however work will continue until late Spring 2025, when the second phase will be completed. Phase two involves refreshing the galleries and exhibition spaces, and upgrading teaching and meeting spaces.
3. Embassy Village
Embassy Village is one of the most talked about Greater Manchester developments due to its one-of-a-kind purpose – to help offer shelter to Manchester city region’s homeless and vulnerable men. Construction on Embassy Village has already begun but once complete it will transform the site below 22 railway arches in Manchester on land which has been provided by Peel Waters. Located adjacent to the Bridgewater Canal and River Irwell, Embassy Village will create a community of 40 new homes with wrap-around support for those who need it most. With completion expected for 2025, Embassy Village will feature high-quality homes, a village hall and outdoor green spaces, including mini allotments to grow vegetables and a multi-use sports area to enrich residents’ lives and aid in their progress.
4. Etihad Stadium
The home of Manchester City FC, the Etihad Stadium, is set to undergo an expansion of its North Stand, which would see the stadium capacity increase to over 60,000, plus it will also feature a sky bar in the upper tier offering views overlooking the pitch and a stadium roof walk experience. In addition, there are plans for a covered City Square fan zone, with a capacity of 3,000 and a wide variety of food and drink outlets, new club shop, museum and 400-bed hotel, have all been proposed. Modest workspace has also been included for use by start-up and medium-sized organisations looking to co-locate and collaborate with the Club, City Football Group and Etihad Campus partners. The aim is for the North Stand to be complete and open during the 2025/26 football season, with the hotel, workspace and public realm works, including City Square, subsequently complete by late 2026.
5. Lower Campfield Market
Lower Campfield Market in Manchester on Liverpool Road is an iconic structure that has been used as part of the Science and Industry Museum housing the Air and Space Hall, until its closure in 2021. Now, a scheme using £17.5m of Levelling Up funding is set to transform this hall and another historic Manchester city centre building into a modern hub for growing media and tech firms has taken a significant step forward. The Grade II-listed Upper Campfield Market and Lower Campfield Market buildings will provide 83,000sq ft of modern workspace including a minimum of 400 hot desks plus meeting rooms, event spaces and other facilities accessible on a permanent occupier or drop-in basis following a repair, refurbish and fit-out.
6. Oldham Coliseum
In contrast to the new developments happening in Greater Manchester, Oldham Coliseum, is expected to get a new lease of life in 2025. Last year saw Oldham Coliseum saved from closure, with the local council revealing it is officially due to reopen in time for the 2025 pantomime season. The renowned theatre which has helped launch the careers of many Northern stars such as Suranne Jones, Christopher Eccleston and Maxine Peake was forced to close in March 2023 after Arts Council England withdrew a £1.8 million grant from the theatre following a nationwide review.
7. Science and Industry Museum
Near to one of the other Greater Manchester developments set to be completed in 2025, Lower Campfield Market, is the Science and Industry Museum, which is also undergoing a restoration programme. One of these improvements is repair work on the Science and Industry Museum’s iconic 1830 Viaduct and gantry that were at the heart of industrial Manchester. Essential repair work is nearly done, restoring the viaduct and the gantry connected to the Power Hall, a piece of once cutting-edge technology in Manchester that shows how the historic station was transformed into a busy goods depot. Mostly hidden by the station’s buildings, the Viaduct runs from the middle of the Power Hall out towards Water Street. Together with the 1830 Station, it makes up the most complete surviving early railway station complex in the world.
8. Planet Ice TraffordCity
Manchester’s TraffordCity is set to welcome a brand new ice arena featuring a state-of-the-art ice rink. Situated next to the Chill Factore and iFLY, the three-acre development will be located on the former Soccer Dome site which was cleared by Peel Waters in 2023 in preparation for future leisure developments. The TraffordCity ice arena will be the biggest Planet Ice venue in the UK and their 15th Ice Arena in the country. As well as being home to a massive ice rink, the purpose-built facility will also convert into a multi-use event space, according to developers.
9. Manchester Airport Terminal 2
Manchester Airport’s new Terminal 2 is nearing completion and will feature new restaurants, bars and shops. In early 2023, the airport announced a £440m project to complete the new Terminal 2 building, marking the final phase of the £1.3bn transformation programme. Upon completion in 2025, around 80% of all passengers will use the expanded Terminal 2, which will boast 22 new shops, bars and restaurants, including a high-street style shopping area with luxury brands, a Fever Tree bar and a food hall. The extended departure lounge will feature a 472-seat food market serving a variety of world cuisines and quick eats, including desserts from popular Manchester bakery Gooey.
10. Chester Zoo grassland lodges
Ok, so not technically in Greater Manchester but you cannot deny it’s one of the most exciting developments. Plans for the long-awaited savannah-style lodges at Chester Zoo were approved by Chester and Cheshire West Council in summer 2024 and will see a new area created, which will include 51 lodges (with a further 9 added in a later phase), a two-storey reception building with bar and restaurant, an orientation lodge, as well as a lake. The stunning luxury lodges will bring together a range of different African habitats – from bushland wildlife to rich plains – and guests will get to enjoy the highly unique accommodation right next to the park attraction, which is home to thousands of rare and endangered animals.
Developments in Greater Manchester with work being carried out or expected to start in 2025
11. Prestwich Village
Plans to transform the centre of Prestwich Village into a thriving heart of the community were approved by Bury Council in summer 2024. Prestwich Regeneration LLP – the joint venture between nationwide placemaker Muse and Bury Council – lodged a planning application for the regeneration of the Longfield Centre site, which will feature a new market hall (including food hall) and village square. The £100m+ project aims to transform the Longfield Centre with the regeneration plans set to include a new community hub building, including a library and flexible community space that can be used for events, clubs and art and culture. The building will also offer an opportunity to deliver a new Prestwich Health Centre, with discussions ongoing with the NHS and local GP practices.
12. Ancoats Green
Set to take the title from Mayfield Park as the newest city centre park is Ancoats Green. The new city centre park space forms part of the closing chapter of the regeneration of Ancoats that began more than 20 years ago, alongside the redevelopment of the retail site adjacent to Cotton Field Park at New Islington Marina to make a new city centre park. A state-of-the-art government digital campus will use five acres of the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats, whilst the new park space will help meet the need for quality, attractive green space in the city centre and will also open up access to the existing Cotton Field Park and Ancoats Marina. Jersey Green and Prussia Street will begin their transformations in 2025 and 2027 respectively, and will remain open with improved footpaths, additional seating and better connections to Miles Platting and New Islington, and the Prussia Street greenway will link the Rochdale canal with Ancoats Green via Jersey Street.
13. Scout Moor II wind farm
Cubico Sustainable Investments has announced plans for Scout Moor II, a landmark 100 MW onshore wind farm set to become the largest in England. Located next to the existing Scout Moor wind farm between Edenfield, Rawtenstall, and Rochdale, north of Manchester, this project marks the first major onshore wind development in England in over a decade. Subject to planning permission, Scout Moor II could be operational before 2030, generating enough clean electricity to power over 100,000 homes and meet around 10% of Greater Manchester’s domestic energy needs.
14. Plot D
Already home to Deansgate Square, where the city’s tallest building (South Tower) is currently situated at 200m (656ft) tall, a 71-storey building, which is part of the next phase of the Great Jackson Street development, is expected to overtake it. The largest of Renaker’s five tower blocks which have been approved, referred to as Plot D in planning documents, is set to be 213m (698 ft) high and is currently in a race with developer Salboy’s proposed 241m (790 ft) high block as to who will be the first to complete their high-rise building. Renaker’s four other towers, which includes Contour, will be either between 47 or 51 storeys tall, and will feature a dog spa, Mahjong room, podcast recording studio and a virtual golf driving range. Plot D will feature a restaurant on the 71st floor with jaw-dropping views of the city and will be accessible to the public.
15. Viadux phase 2
The race is on in 2025 as thesecond phase of Viadux, which could be the tallest skyscraper in the city with a whopping 76 floors, is expected to start construction work. Located in between Manchester Central Convention Complex and Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station, plans include 452 new homes in a 76-storey building, with internal and external amenity spaces including swimming pool, spa and gym. Plus the development will feature public spaces, 133 affordable homes in a 23-storey building alongside 160 hotel rooms, as part of a hotel operated by a high-end hotel brand, including a public restaurant and bar, function rooms and events spaces. Construction is expected to begin in late spring 2025.
16. LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme
Approved in 2024, Great Places Housing Group’s plan to create the UK’s first purpose-built and co-produced majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme, which is set to be built in Whalley Range, south Manchester. The development is planned for the site of the former Spire Hospital in Russell Road, Whalley Range, which was demolished in 2019 and the brownfield site has since remained vacant. The planned scheme will deliver 80 one and two bedroom social rented apartments for members of the LGBTQ+ community aged 55 years or over in a brick building of four to five storeys. The low-carbon scheme will include shared facilities, lounges and treatment rooms and landscaped gardens.