The controversial £130m skyscraper project dubbed the ‘tombstone’ was approved after the city’s planning committee chairman was forced to deliver the casting vote in favour of the project at a split planning committee.

Laing O’Rourke is tipped to deliver the 850-room student project, which will be located adjacent to Manchester’s Oxford Road Station.

Currently a multi-storey car park, the Hulme Street scheme will be brick clad with work expected to start before the end of the year.

Architect Glenn Howells designed the building with WSP providing M&E design and Tier Consult structural design.

Aecom is acting as project manager and cost consultant.