Piccadilly Tower Explained

Piccadilly Tower
Location:Manchester, England
Status:Proposed
Coordinates:53.4786°N -2.2308°W
Start Date:2008 (on hold since mid-2008 and still on hold)
Completion Date:Unknown
Est Completion:Unknown
Opening:Unknown
Building Type:Residential, hotel and car parking
Roof:188m (617feet)[1]
Floor Count:58[2]
Cost:£220 million
Architect:Woods Bagot
Developer:Ballymore Group

The Piccadilly Tower (Eastgate or Inacity Tower) is a proposed development designed by Woods Bagot in Manchester city centre, England.

History

The developer proposed to build a 58-storey, 188metre skyscraper.

The tower would have 420 residential units and a 220-bed hotel, as well as a fitness centre, conference facilities, restaurants and bars.[3] New public walkways would be constructed along the Ashton Canal adjacent to the site. Three underground floors would provide car parking for residents through an NCP public car park. A 17-storey "East build" section would comprise retail/commercial/residential space.

The site, a car park on a railway viaduct to the rear of Piccadilly station[4] between Store Street and Ducie Street was purchased by Inacity for £14 million in 2003.[5] The planning application was submitted in 2004[6] and was approved in March 2005. The cost of the development is around £220 million.

The project was a joint venture between Inacity and Merepark, but has been sold to Irish property developers Ballymore Group, with Inacity retaining a small share. It would be Ballymore's first development in Manchester.[7]

Groundwork started in January 2008,[8] to be completed in August 2008. The work consisted of demolishing eight viaduct arches, redirecting a sewer, and constructing a 19m (62feet) deep concrete retaining wall to the north, where the site is adjacent to a canal.[9]

On 8 September 2008, Inacity announced the project was on hold due to the financial crisis of 2007–2010, and construction would not resume until the economy stabilised. The site was converted back to a carpark.[10]

As of 2018, the site was still owned by original developers Ballymore. The site is currently used as a car park as of 2023. Ballymore has objected to numerous developments nearby, such as the renovation of Gateway House, which would block access to Piccadilly station, suggesting the scheme is still alive – at least as a proposal.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Piccadilly Tower, Manchester . https://web.archive.org/web/20050226151421/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=221761 . dead . 26 February 2005 . Emporis . 2008-02-17.
  2. News: Piccadilly Tower Boost . . Chris . Barry . 13 September 2007 . 2008-02-17.
  3. Web site: Inacity Tower Official Website . 2008-02-18.
  4. Web site: Building – 331 – Piccadilly Tower – Manchester . SkyScraperNews.com . 2008-02-17.
  5. News: Ballymore targets 620ft Eastgate Tower development in Manchester . Irish Times . 12 September 2007 . 2007-02-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080521183506/http://news.myhome.ie/commercialproperty/2007/0912/1189076124200.html . May 21, 2008 .
  6. Web site: News: 60-storey proposal for gateway site in Manchester . https://web.archive.org/web/20050109013504/http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/nc/ne/?id=101237 . dead . 9 January 2005 . 13 December 2004 . 2008-02-17.
  7. Web site: Inacity Sell Manchester Tower Plan To Ballymore . SkyScraperNews.com . 30 August 2007 . 2008-02-17.
  8. Web site: Work Starts On Piccadilly Tower . SkyScraperNews.com . 29 January 2008 . 2008-02-17.
  9. Web site: Work Starts On Piccadilly Tower . birsecl.co.uk . 26 March 2008 . 2008-03-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080518211902/http://www.birsecl.co.uk/html/company-news/view/BirseCivilswinsManchestercitycentreinfrastructurescheme.html?ContentID=126 . 18 May 2008.
  10. Web site: Wayne Mellor Announces Piccadilly Tower Hold . . 2008-09-08 . 2008-09-08.
  11. Web site: Gateway House . 2 . Manchester City Council . 17 January 2013 . 2013-03-31.