Panorama...

A panorama of the western approach to the city centre. There's masses of development going on in this part of the city at the moment. The city is going for 'statement' buildings marking the gateways to the city at the moment with the idea that you will be impressed, or at least awed, by your arrival. As you arrive from the west along the M62/M602 corridor this is what you will pass.

On the right is the Wilburn Street Basin development, three apartment blocks around the edge of a once neglected, Victorian canal basin off the River Irwell. It's been desolate car parking for years but it's time has come.

On the left is the Water Street Tower. Harry Ramsden's used to have a restaurant with a small car park here. It's a tiny site by the river. I remember sitting in the car park on a warm day while friends were inside buying some of Harry's trademark fish and chips. I thought I spotted a squirrel running across the car park. I hadn't, it was a large rat! Rats aside, they are building a 30+ storey tower on this site plus some other buildings.

But that tower will pale into insignificance soon. Plans have been released for four new towers just beyond the railway viaducts. The tallest will be a 200m monster, the tallest building in the country outside of London. With the population of the city growing fast, we need them apparently.