Top notch.

You can virtually see Ian Simpson's Beetham Tower from Milton Keynes. Well almost; an exaggeration, perhaps. But it certainly is quite a sight as you approach by rail on the Manchester/Stockport mainline, rising high above any other structure on the horizon. At 155m tall (171 if you count its slender rooftop blade--surely, the best billboard in the north-west) and with 47 floors, it will be (for a while at least) the city's tallest tower. Combining 219 residential apartments, 70 000sq ft (6506sqm) of office space and a 230 000sq ft (21 375sqm) Hilton Hotel, it is set to take loft-life in Manchester to new heights, with unsubstantiated rumours already being circulated that David Beckham has bought the prestigious top-floor penthouse flat; a mere snip at [pounds sterling]2.5m.

The building, however, cannot be criticised for failing to provide a range of apartments at more affordable rates, with studio flats starting at the relatively low price of [pounds sterling]100 000; not an excessive amount, you could say, considering that all of the apartments are situated above the 24th floor, and will command unrivalled views across the city. One, two and three bedroom configurations are also on offer. Unsurprisingly, the tower does have its critics, rising unapologetically within a relatively low-rise area, however, as a visitor to the city the tower does serve as an excellent way-finding beacon, situated at the end of one of the city's main streets, Deansgate. With its simple rectangular, stepped profile, it provides an unmissable and strongly axial silhouette, which will no doubt attract many people to the Hilton's 23rd floor Skybar that will occupy the hotel's top floor, situated at the point where the tower steps out in section. Work is set to be completed later this summer, with a full Architectural Review report planned in due course.

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