Chapter 5: Northern Conference Preview
The North's vertical ambition

Join the conversation at Manchester's Tall Buildings Northern Conference

The Tall Buildings Northern Conference on 24th March in Manchester is an unmissable event for developers, architects and planners shaping the region's skyline. Hosted by Tall Buildings Media, it showcases successful case studies from some of the region’s greatest cities while providing essential guidance on fundamental processes including Gateway 2 and the golden thread. Here, we explore why we’re turning our attention to the North of England, and reveal what delegates can expect on the day.

The North of England has a complex relationship with tall buildings that reflects both its industrial heritage and contemporary urban aspirations. Historically, the region's skyline was defined by mill chimneys, church spires and civic towers that symbolised industrial prowess and municipal pride.

In recent decades, cities like Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool have embraced high-rise development as a way to signal economic regeneration and compete on a national and international stage. These towers serve practical purposes – providing much-needed residential and commercial space in constrained urban cores – while also functioning as powerful symbols of confidence and investment.

Image © Marketing Manchester

The Beetham Tower in Manchester and the emerging clusters of residential towers across Leeds city centre demonstrate how vertical development can accommodate growing populations without sprawling into the green belt that surrounds northern cities.

However, the importance of tall buildings extends beyond mere symbolism or density. In post-industrial cities throughout the North, skyscrapers represent a deliberate reimagining of urban identity, marking a transition from manufacturing economies to service-based ones centred on finance, technology and creative industries. They create distinctive skylines that can attract talent, tourism and further investment, helping northern cities assert themselves against the traditional dominance of London.

New Jackson © Marketing Manchester

Viadux Phase 2 © SimpsonHaugh

The Tall Buildings Northern Conference, taking place on 24th March in Manchester and hosted by Tall Buildings Media, arrives at a crucial moment for the region's vertical development. This gathering brings together developers, architects and planners behind some of the North's greatest high-rise success stories, offering a platform to share practical insights on both viability and delivery.

With case studies drawn from Manchester and Leeds, attendees will gain access to tried and tested practices that have transformed northern skylines while navigating the increasingly complex landscape of building safety regulations.

Victoria Riverside © Jack Hobhouse

Crown Street Phase 2 © Daniel Hopkinson

The conference's focus on essential regimes including Gateway 2 and decoding the golden thread reflects the industry's evolution – tall buildings in the North must not only be ambitious and economically viable, but also exemplary in their safety standards.

For anyone involved in shaping the region's urban future, this event represents a valuable opportunity to learn from those who have successfully balanced ambition with responsibility, and to join the vital discussions around attracting investment while maintaining the highest standards of building safety and urban quality.

Session highlights

Session One explores how Northern cities are shaping their identities through tall buildings. Featured speakers include Ian Simpson of architecture practice SimpsonHaugh, who will discuss Manchester's evolving skyline and the strategic clustering of high-rise architecture, and Ian Emmerson of Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher, who will present Leeds' urban transformation through densification, whilst Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been invited to open the session.

The programme includes a Q&A segment for delegates to engage directly with speakers about architectural identity, skyline design and planning considerations, followed by networking opportunities with exhibitors.

Ian Simpson

Ian Emmerson

In recent decades, cities like Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool have embraced high-rise development as a way to signal economic regeneration and compete on a national and international stage."

Session Two addresses critical building safety regulation and compliance pathways. Joshua Paulin from the Building Safety Regulator will open with updates on regulatory developments and initiatives to strengthen industry collaboration. This leads into a panel debate featuring building safety experts Chris Acton (Clancy), Emma Evans (Bexley Beaumont), Alan Robson (Project Four Building Safety Experts), Victoria Millward (Paddock Johnson), and Wayne Kuczer (Armstrong Fluid Technology), who will explore policies, expectations and practical strategies for successfully navigating Gateway 2 and subsequent regulatory stages.

Dr Melanie Robinson of Okana will then examine information management's essential role in maintaining the golden thread of building safety data. A Q&A session will allow delegates to pose questions to speakers from both the regulatory updates and golden thread presentations before breaking for lunch and networking with exhibitors.

Alan Robson

Chris Acton

Emma Evans

Victoria Millward

Joshua Paulin

Melanie Robinson

Session Three presents a series of innovative case studies showcasing transformative tall building projects across northern England's urban landscapes. Darren Paine of DeSimone will discuss the Three60 and Blade developments, followed by Jay Squier from Henley Investment Management exploring hypermixity – the integration of diverse uses – in major city-centre schemes. The student accommodation sector features prominently with Dan Podesta (Civic) presenting the IQ Student Accommodation project and Ben Morley (True Student) examining innovations at Broad Lane Tower. Nicholas Tansella of Hawkins\Brown will demonstrate how new developments are revitalising Manchester's cityscape through the Victoria Riverside and Red Bank NT02 & 03 projects, while Simone Miriana and Simon Smith from AKTII will conclude with insights from the Albert Bridge House redevelopment.

A concluding Q&A will allow delegates to explore design approaches, delivery challenges and industry best practices with the presenting experts. The Conference Chair will close the day with reflections on key themes and the sector's future direction before the conference concludes at 16:40.

tallbuildingsmedia.co.uk/events

Darren Paine

Jay Squier

Dan Podesta

Ben Morley

Nicholas Tansella

Simone Miriana