Hundreds of residents living in one of Manchester city centre’s best-known residential skyscrapers have been forced to seek temporary accommodation after a major power failure left apartments without electricity and hot water, with repairs not expected to be completed until Monday. The disruption has affected occupants of West Tower, part of the Deansgate Square development, one of Manchester’s most prominent high-rise residential complexes.
Major Electrical Fault Leaves Luxury Apartments Without Power
West Tower, a 44-storey building on Deansgate housing hundreds of residents in premium apartments and penthouses, lost power at around 9pm on Wednesday evening.
Management initially advised residents that engineers were working to resolve the issue. However, by Thursday evening, occupants were informed that electricity would not be restored until Monday due to the scale of the fault.
Residents were seen leaving the building with luggage as they sought hotel rooms and alternative accommodation across the city.
Fault Linked to Busbar Infrastructure
According to an email sent to residents by The Residences Management, the outage has been traced to a fault with the busbar system serving the Deansgate Square site, affecting power supply throughout West Tower.
Management said the damaged component is bespoke and must be specially manufactured before installation can take place.
The email stated that a third-party infrastructure operator responsible for that section of the development is working with contractors to restore service as quickly as possible. Temporary generator power is not expected to be available until Monday 13 April 2026.
Residents Describe ‘Chaos’ as Frustration Mounts
Several residents have criticised the handling of the incident, describing confusion and frustration as communication from management changed throughout the day.
One resident said the atmosphere in reception had become “chaotic” as occupants sought updates and made arrangements to leave.
Another said they had booked hotel accommodation after deciding they could not remain in the building without electricity, internet access or hot water.
Concerns Over Working From Home and Spoiled Food
Residents have also raised concerns about financial losses resulting from the outage.
One tenant said the disruption had forced them to take unpaid leave from work due to being unable to work remotely from their flat.
Others reported frustration over spoiled food in fridges and freezers, with some claiming they had been told compensation would not be offered for those losses.
The same resident said expectations were higher given the premium rents charged at the development, with some apartments reportedly costing more than £1,600 per month.
Accommodation and Expense Support Offered
Building management has offered to reimburse residents for temporary accommodation and food expenses while the outage continues.
Under the arrangements outlined to tenants:
Hotel Reimbursement Cap
- Up to £120 per night for single occupants and couples
- Families advised to contact staff for tailored support
Residents may also choose to remain in the building during the outage, although apartments currently have no mains electricity. Emergency power remains available for lifts and essential life-safety systems, including fire alarms, smoke ventilation and sprinkler systems.
Conclusion
The incident has raised fresh questions over resilience planning and infrastructure standards in large-scale residential developments, particularly in high-rise schemes marketed at the luxury end of the market. With temporary power not expected until Monday, many West Tower residents now face several more days away from home as engineers work to restore full service.
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