MANCHESTER is getting a lighthouse. Work has begun on a sleek 20-storey tower in the Northern Quarter that will be illuminated at night in ever changing colours and stand like a beacon at the southern edge of the city. Designed by Philip Thornton from Conran & Partners it will, undoubtedly, be the swankiest new scheme yet seen in this bohemian corner of town.

And the tower, 67 metres high, but just eight metres wide, will slot between two of the areas most loved buildings - Pall Mall House and The Coliseum Shopping Centre.

These are also being converted as part of the scheme into more apartments and above-ground floor space for fledgling independent businesses such as a restaurant and local deli.

The site is across from Affleck's Palace and next door to Wayne Hemmingway's The Birchin, which is aimed at key workers.

It's the accessible end of the Northern Quarter, tucked in behind Debenhams, opposite another Conran building and facing the back end of the Arndale, which, thankfully, is looking much better these days.

Exciting

Light House - as it will be called - is the first Manchester scheme by the small independent developer Stonehurst Estates, which has an eclectic mix of projects to its name, ranging from mansions in Kensington to loft apartments in Leicester.

MD Simon Briggs said: "We only do schemes that inspire us in places that excite us and I think Manchester is a very exciting city right now.

"And I think this site is fantastic, just off the main shopping street, close to the tram stops and Piccadilly Station yet with its own distinct neighbourhood of individual shops and bars."

They bought the plot four years ago when it already had planning permission for two smaller towers, but brought in the Conran team to re-work the plans.

Briggs said: "We got the site in 2002, but some of the Royal Exchange tenants were still there, so we held off and decided to re-look at the plans.

"This is a fascinating part of town. Pall Mall and the Coliseum were linked by a central gantry and we decided to replace this with our very slender tower of glass and stainless steel.

"And because of the level of the site it will become one of Manchester's tallest buildings and a landmark to be seen from miles around."

As is always the way, some apartments have already been sold to investors to keep the banks happy, but the 10 floors in the tower have been kept back. Stonehurst are also aiming to make a proportion of units on the lower floor of Pall Mall House available on shared equity which, in perfect tune with this part of town, would see first timers sharing a building with those who have splashed out é500,000 for a top-floor duplex.

The tower will be a mix of one and two beds with prices expected to start at about é125,000. Those above the 15th floor will have access to a huge communal roof terrace topped with grass similar to that at Manchester United's training ground at Carrington.

Inside, the look is going to be industrial with dark wood flooring and white doors, but the bathrooms, which are being delivered as fully-tiled pods from Italy, will boast walls of orange and green. Kitchens, too, will be Italian, this time in white with dark wood tops.

Dramatic

Briggs said: "Our aim here has always been to work with the dimensions of the existing buildings, then add a new and dramatic element which will set new standards in the Northern Quarter.

"We are also looking at making this standard available to as wide a range of people as possible."

To maintain control of the build they formed their own constriction company headed by Barrie Lazenby, who said: "There have been a few surprises, of course. The buildings date back to the early 1900s and had been altered several times, but if we come across a snag it means we can come up with a solution as a team."

Work is already well-ahead and they are aiming for a show flat to be open in September, when sales will start officially. Right now, they are only lodging expressions of interest.

Stephen Hogg, from sales agents King Sturge, said: "The Light House is one of the most exciting schemes to come on to the market in Manchester for some time. There is simply nothing like it in such a fantastic location.

"The apartments will appeal to owner occupiers looking for a central location and at the heart of Manchester's retail and entertainment scenes with Piccadilly rail station a five minutes walk away."

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