Curtain walling in Manchester
Manchester city centre has seen one of the fastest growths in tall buildings outside London, and with them a steady stream of unitised residential and office facades. Alongside the towers there are university and hospital campuses, business parks and older 1970s and 1980s office blocks whose glazing is due for renewal.
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Curtain walling work in Manchester
- Stick curtain walling
Mullions and transoms built up on site, glass fitted in place.
- Unitised curtain walling
Storey-high panels made and glazed in a factory, craned in.
- Structural and spider glazing
Frameless glass held by silicone, bolts or glass fins.
- Fire-rated curtain walling
Tested E and EI glazing for escape routes and boundaries.
- Curtain walling installation
Design, fabrication and fitting on new build and refurb.
- Repair and refurbishment
Leaks, failed glass units, gaskets, reglazing and overcladding.
- CWCT testing
Laboratory sequence tests and on-site hose testing.
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Typical prices in Manchester
National rates are £450 to £525 per m² for stick and £1,400 to £1,600 per m² for unitised. Most Manchester work prices within these ranges; tall city centre schemes with bespoke panels sit higher.
| System | Per m², ex VAT |
|---|---|
| Stick curtain walling, flat, powder coated | £450 to £525 per m² |
| Unitised curtain walling, flat | £1,400 to £1,600 per m² |
Where these figures come from
National rates for proprietary aluminium systems on a flat elevation, supply and install, from the RIBA Journal cost guide by Gleeds (March 2025). There is no published regional rate.
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Planning in Manchester
Manchester City Council is the planning authority for the city itself. Salford, including MediaCity and the riverside towers facing the city centre, and Trafford are separate councils with their own planning departments, so check which side of the boundary the building sits on.
City centre conservation areas, around the civic core, Ancoats and the canal corridors, bring closer attention to new facades and to any replacement that changes the look of a building.
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What Manchester projects need to plan for
Wind-driven rain is the test every facade in the North West faces. Specify water tightness classes from laboratory testing, insist on on-site hose testing of a sample of joints, and pay attention to the details at slab edges, roof upstands and ground floor thresholds, where most leaks start.
Many new city centre residential towers are higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act, which means the Building Safety Regulator acts as building control and the external wall is subject to regulation 7(2).
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Questions people ask
How much does curtain walling cost in Manchester?
Typically £450 to £525 per m² for a stick system and £1,400 to £1,600 per m² for unitised, supplied and fitted, before VAT, access and design.
Who is the planning authority for curtain walling in Manchester?
Manchester City Council within the city boundary. Buildings in Salford or Trafford, including MediaCity, are dealt with by those councils.
Is stick or unitised more common in Manchester?
Both. Unitised dominates the tall city centre towers; stick systems are used on lower offices, campus buildings, entrances and refurbishments.
Find a curtain walling specialist in Manchester
Location first, then the package, then your contact details. Each step is short.
We are an introduction service, not a curtain walling contractor. We look for one that covers the project and name them to you first; nothing is passed on until you agree.
Thanks, we have your enquiry.
- We look for a curtain walling contractor that covers the project and handles this kind of package.
- When we find one, we email or call to tell you who they are. Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They review the drawings or the building and price the work. No marketing from us.