“I just restocked my fridge and freezer, for it all to be turned off again”
Residents living in Deansgate’s West Tower have said they are ‘so angry’ after being told the electricity in the plush tower block will go off AGAIN this week.
The plush 44-storey West Tower, which is part of the Renaker development along Deansgate and offers penthouse homes worth over £2m, first suffered a power cut last Wednesday evening (April 8). The electrics went off in the apartments, leaving no hot water and no way to use any facilities in each home. The management team first sought to reassure residents that works were ongoing to rectify the problem, before emails the following day told residents it would likely not be resolved until Monday.
Some residents stayed in budget-friendly hotels over the weekend. The outage left hundreds with the options of either staying in their apartments, which can also rake in anything between £1,400 and £15,000 per month, or moving into hotels with an offer of £120-per night and £40-per-day food reimbursements.
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The plush block is known to be home to several high profile residents – including Premier League footballers and social media influencers. The original email from The Residences also suggested a number of budget hotels residents could consider, including Motel One, Premier Inn or Romzzz Aparthotels which are ‘well within the £120 budget’.
The Manchester Evening News reported last week that the cause of the power outage was identified as a ‘fault with the busbar within the Deansgate Square site’. A busbar acts as a central connection point which conducts and distributes electricity in industrial, commercial and residential systems.
However an update email sent from The Residences to West Tower tenants on Sunday (April 12) it was confirmed that a temporary source of power had been found to restore electricity to apartments. Residents were able to return home one day ahead of schedule, with works ongoing to restore a permanent source of power.
They were also told that work was ongoing to organise reimbursements for food and drink costs incurred during the outage, but also that the cost of itemised items that had spoiled in fridges and freezers would be covered.
Those living in the block have now told the M.E.N they are ‘so angry’ after being informed by the management company that power is due to be turned off for eight hours on Thursday (April 16). This is for the power supply to be fully transferred from the alternative power source back to the original national energy infrastructure.
The planned power outage for all apartments is expected to take place for eight hours between 10am and 6pm, when electricity is expected to be fully restored. Essential parts of the infrastructure, like alarms and lifts, will remain functional.
“I’m so angry having just restocked my fridge and freezer, for it all to be turned off again,” one resident said. “We weren’t told that it would be switched off again and one day of notice is shocking.”
Residents have been urged to heat water in water boilers before the outage so a sufficient supply lasts. Coworking spaces with power will remain open in communal areas along with hot drinks and shared cooking facilities.
An email sent to those residing in the tower block read: “We are preparing to transfer West Tower’s power supply from the alternative power source back to the national energy infrastructure. To complete these essential works we will need to temporarily switch off electricity to all apartments to complete these works.
“These works are scheduled for Thursday 16th April 2026, with a planned power outage for all apartments between 10:00AM and 6:00PM. Power is estimated to be returned by 6:00PM to all West Tower apartments. During this period, the lifts and life safety systems (fire alarm system, smoke vents, sprinklers) in the building will remain fully operational.
“Please ensure that all electrical and portable appliances, such as hairdryers and straighteners, are unplugged before the outage begins. If you will not be returning to your apartment prior to Thursday please let us know so we can assist in unplugging appliances.
“A member our team may need to enter your apartment towards to the end of the reinstatement works to complete a safety check. Please take this as formal notice that emergency access may be required to any apartment within the building to carry out electrical safety checks.”
It continued: “Thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete these necessary works to restore West Tower back to the national energy infrastructure. We sincerely apologise for the disruption and appreciate your continued cooperation as we work to restore permanent power.”
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