A soaring ‘vertical village’ including Manchester’s tallest building is poised to transform the city centre’s skyline.

The eye-catching Trinity Islands scheme on land bounded by the River Irwell and Water Street, near the St John’s neighbourhood, has been approved by Manchester council.

Separate plans have also been granted for a 40 storey-high glass skyscraper of apartments on the former Bauer Millett showroom site on Albion Street, around the corner from the taller Beetham Tower .

The Trinity development - three years in the making - would be the tallest residential scheme in the north west.

Trinity Islands is a four-acre collection of five residential towers with the tallest dwarfing the 47 storey-high Beetham Tower at 67 storeys - 213 metres.

That’s higher than the tallest tower planned as part of the ongoing Owen Street development in the city centre - set to reach 64 storeys.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

Two of the five towers would be 26 storeys high, with a third at 37 and the fourth at 41, behind the tallest at 67 storeys. All five would be connected by a pedestrian bridge.

Developers Allied London said the ‘vertical village’ would offer residents ‘unrivalled and stunning’ views of the city from ‘sky-gardens’ and tower observation decks. A boat club for the University of Manchester would also be build - breathing new life into recreation on the Irwell.

On-site conveniences would include a farmer’s market - a first for city centre living - as well as bars, cafes and community galleries and an ‘educational facility’.

In total, 1,400 homes would be created. Allied revealed pre-construction work could start by 2018.

Chief executive Mike Ingall said the bold plan would offer ‘gardens and communal areas in the sky’ and bring ‘something special’ to the skyline.

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He said: “This is an ambitious and important development. It is not simply a residential development, it’s the creation of a community that can serve a much wider neighbourhood.

“We also intend to work with Manchester council to ensure the development is affordable for city centre workers, who currently have to suffer long commutes but would prefer to live in the city centre. In my view there is no point in building something on this scale if everyone can’t appreciate and be part of it. The observation decks will act as visitor attraction and be a big draw - we want people to enjoy this development and be part of it.”

(Image: Manchester Evening News.)

The site itself - bounded by Trinity Way, the A57 Regent Road, the Irwell and the Castlefield Viaduct - is an extension of St John’s and would exist over two distinct plots.

It’s been derelict for many years and was used as car parks for Granada Studios. There would be parking for 581 cars and 2,532 bicycles, as well as 200 public cycle docks.

In separate plans the council approved a skyscraper of 375 residential apartments near the Beetham Tower and Manchester Central. A new transport hub could also be build there.