Planning permission has been approved for Select Property Group to construct two residential tower blocks of more than 500 flats for private rent in the city centre of Manchester.

The two tower blocks, Riverview and Riverside, will operate under the Affinity Living brand of the Select group and will be built on the banks of the River Irwell next to the Lowry Hotel.

The planning approval is the third one given for the company’s Affinity Living residential brand, after last month saw the group given approval for 677 apartments at Circle Square in a joint venture with Bruntwood, along with 684 apartments at Embankment West earlier in the year.

Located next to the riverside footpath on New Bailey Street, the 35 storey construction, Affinity Living Riverview, will comprise of 318 apartments, while Affinity Living Riverside, the 17 storey building, will house 188 apartments.

Enabling work is due to commence in October with Affinity Living Riverside due to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2018, while Riverview should be finished by the end of 2019.

Select Property Group Chief Executive Officer, Mark Stott, said that Affinity Living Riverview and Riverside promise to bring something “exceptional” to a generation of professional young renters in an area of the city that is highly sought after.

Mr Stott says the company is pleased to have been given the planning permission and is very much looking forward to commencing work on the site.

Deloitte Real Estate Assistant Director, Niall Alcock, commented: “The proposals will deliver significant new high quality residential accommodation from a proven developer and operator and play a key role in securing the long term success of the region.”

He added that it is exciting for the company to have been granted a third application in two months, while the architects working on the project are Denton Corker Marshall.