Manchester developer Ask Real Estate Limited has revealed plans to build a 40-storey block of flats in the city.

Ask’s tower, designed by SimpsonHaugh & Partners, would provide approximately 350 apartments on the site of the former Bauer Millett car showroom in Manchester.

A 14-storey office building is also planned alongside on Great Bridgewater Street, with 240,000 sq ft of space.

Ask managing director John Hughes said: “Our scheme will be a visionary development, something which only a few years ago, would have been almost impossible to imagine happening outside of London.

“The huge levels of investment we have seen into Manchester’s infrastructure coupled with efforts by the Universities to attract and retain talent has seen an upturn in graduate retention and consequently an influx of businesses looking to establish themselves in the city centre.

“In turn this has driven demand for new hotels, retail and leisure outlets – the development of which has boosted the city’s economy. These factors mean it is now time for us to unlock previously hidden opportunities and the Bauer Millett showrooms is a strong example of this concept.“