This view is from the junction of Deansgate, Blackfriars Street and St Mary’s Gate.

The top photo was very kindly provided by Aidan O'Rourke and looks towards the No. 1 Deansgate construction site in early 2001. The bottom photo, taken in 2025, shows the completed scheme.

The site was originally occupied by the former Shambles Square Market Place which was constructed in the early 1970s and badly damaged in the 1996 bomb. It was subsequently demolished in 1999 (along with a pedestrian bridge which went over Deansgate - does anyone remember it?) Photo showing the demolition included in the comments below.

Forming part of Edaw's (now AECOM) winning masterplan for the bomb damaged area the 60m high building was designed by Ian Simpson Architects - now SimpsonHaugh - and completed in October 2002.

The building, delivered by Crosby Homes, is 17 storeys tall with 84 apartments, including eight penthouses.

The project formed part of the wider Shambles West development which includes the 300,000 sqft Harvey Nichols store, New Cathedral Street, along with a series of other retail units occupied by Zara, Reiss and Hugo Boss, amongst others.