500 people fled for their lives. The ground shook. Buildings trembled. This wasn’t an earthquake—it was a demolition gone terribly wrong in the heart of Manchester city centre. On Friday afternoon, October 24, 2025, the manchester building collapsed at Alberton House during scheduled demolition work, sending scaffolding crashing into the River Irwell and triggering mass evacuations. Workers and nearby employees described “earthquake-like” sensations as one side of the 12-storey office block gave way around 2:50 PM. But how did a planned demolition turn into a city centre emergency?
Dramatic Collapse Rocks Manchester City Centre
The manchester building collapsed without warning at Alberton House on St Mary’s Parsonage, located just off Bridge Street. Witnesses reported hearing an “almighty crash” before massive dust clouds engulfed the surrounding area.
Chloe Gallagher, who stood near the site when disaster struck, told BBC: “There was an almighty crash—the dust clouds came rolling towards us.” She added that the ground shook violently as the structure came down. People in neighbouring buildings rushed to windows to see what was happening.
The building collapse Manchester incident sent debris and scaffolding tumbling into the nearby River Irwell. The force of the collapse created tremors felt throughout surrounding buildings.
500 People Evacuated as Safety Fears Mount
George Jones, founder and owner of Cardinal House business centre next door, had to evacuate approximately 500 people from multiple businesses. The 52-year-old building owner described the terrifying moment to Manchester Evening News after the manchester building collapsed.
“It felt and sounded like an earthquake,” Jones said. “People have left because they don’t feel safe. When I went outside it looked like all smoke.”
Jones revealed that despite being aware of the renovation work for some time, he was never informed about potential safety risks or evacuation needs. “When we went around afterwards to speak to the workmen, they told us to evacuate the building,” he explained.
The scaffolding collapse caused the building to move dangerously. Jones, who bought the neighbouring property and converted it into a business centre two years ago, witnessed the dramatic scene unfold.
Emergency Response: No Injuries Reported
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) responded swiftly to the manchester building collapsed emergency. One fire engine from Manchester Central attended St Mary’s Parsonage shortly after 2:50 PM.
A GMFRS spokesperson confirmed: “One fire engine from Manchester Central attended St Mary’s Parsonage just after 2:50pm today after scaffolding on a building being demolished partially collapsed.” Remarkably, no injuries were reported in the incident.
Fire crews left the scene after handing the matter over to building control authorities. Manchester City Council confirmed that building control officers would attend the site to assess safety concerns.
Greater Manchester Police cordoned off the surrounding area as a precautionary measure. Bridge Street was temporarily closed while emergency services assessed the scene.
Alberton house Manchester: Building’s Troubled History
Alberton House, the 12-storey office block at the centre of the manchester building collapsed incident, has a complex history. The 1970s structure overlooking the River Irwell had stood empty for several years.
The building previously housed a law firm until 2021. Significantly, Alberton House suffered damage from the devastating 1996 IRA bombing at nearby Parsonage Gardens. That attack—the UK mainland’s biggest bomb since World War Two—detonated a 1,500-kilogram device that caused £700 million in damage across Manchester city centre.
£93 Million Redevelopment Plans Disrupted
Commercial property giant Bruntwood SciTech had ambitious plans for the site where the manchester building collapsed. The developer secured planning permission in 2022 to replace alberton house Manchester with an 18-storey landmark office development called “The Alberton.”
The £93 million project was designed to feature the UK’s highest workspace pool and a panoramic roof terrace. The flagship Pioneer building would include a rooftop holistic wellness centre with a performance lap pool, hydrotherapy vitality pool, thermal treatment rooms, fitness studio, yoga terrace, and physio room.
Bruntwood SciTech appointed contractor PP O’Connor to demolish the existing 12-storey structure. The Manchester-based demolition specialist, established in 1960, had been on site since August 2024 conducting internal strip-outs before tearing down the structure.
Construction was originally expected to commence in 2023, delivering 220,000 square feet of office space. However, in June 2024, planners approved modifications allowing two-phase implementation: first demolishing the existing structure, then undertaking enabling works.
Developer Issues Safety Statement
Following the manchester building collapsed incident, Bruntwood SciTech released a statement asserting there was “no danger” to the public or workers. The developer emphasized that safety protocols were followed during the partial collapse.
“We can confirm that this afternoon there was a partial collapse at Alberton House, which is currently undergoing a full demolition,” the statement read. “While we appreciate the noise this generated may have caused some alarm, on a site of this complexity all eventualities are planned for meaning we were able to follow agreed safety protocols.”
The developer insisted: “As such, there was no risk to the on-site team, neighbouring buildings or the general public.” Bruntwood SciTech confirmed that contractors PP O’Connor remained on site and work would continue as planned.
Six PP O’Connor workers were on site when the manchester building collapsed, but none were injured. Work had resumed by 4:30 PM on the same day.
Scaffolding Industry Responds
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) issued a cautious statement following reports that scaffolding was involved in the manchester building collapsed disaster. The industry body emphasized it was too early to determine the cause.
“It is too early to comment if this incident is the result of a failure of the scaffolding, and NASC urges caution in making statements about the cause of the incident until investigations are complete,” the statement read. “Scaffolding, when properly built and maintained, should not fail.”
Investigation Underway
PP O’Connor officials confirmed an investigation was underway into what caused the building collapse Manchester disaster. The Health and Safety Executive is monitoring the situation and liaising with emergency services.
Greater Manchester Police and HSE are expected to review the incident alongside Manchester City Council’s building control officers. As of Friday evening, it remained unclear why part of the structure collapsed during scheduled demolition work.
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Manchester’s Demolition Safety Record
The manchester building collapsed incident highlights ongoing challenges of major demolition work in densely populated city centre areas. Manchester has experienced several building collapse incidents in recent years involving construction and demolition projects.
In 2020, a construction company was fined £30,000 after a three-bedroom property in Stretford collapsed during loft conversion work. An HSE investigation found the company failed to properly plan, manage, and monitor the work.
In 2017, a property developer received an eight-month prison sentence after a roof and rear wall collapsed during demolition work in Oldham. The incident triggered an emergency response involving Greater Manchester Police and Fire Service.
What Happens Next?
The manchester building collapsed site remains under assessment by building control authorities. Manchester City Council will determine when demolition work can safely resume.
Bruntwood SciTech’s ambitious £93 million redevelopment plans remain on track despite the setback. The developer maintains that all safety protocols were followed and work will continue as planned.
For the 500 evacuated workers from neighbouring buildings, concerns about safety during the remaining demolition work persist. George Jones and other business owners await reassurance that no further collapses will occur.
The manchester building collapsed emergency serves as a stark reminder of demolition risks in urban environments. As Manchester continues its rapid development and regeneration, ensuring public safety during complex demolition projects remains paramount. The shocking scenes from October 24, 2025, when the manchester building collapsed at Alberton House, will not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed the terrifying moment.
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