Piccadilly Tower

53°28′42.96″N 2°13′50.88″W / 53.4786000°N 2.2308000°W / 53.4786000; -2.2308000Construction started2008 (on hold since mid-2008 and still on hold)Estimated completionUnknownOpeningUnknownCost£220 million^[2]HeightRoof188 m (617 ft)^[1]Technical detailsFloor count58^[2]Design and constructionArchitect(s)Woods Bagot^[1]DeveloperBallymore Group^[2]

The Piccadilly Tower (Eastgate or Inacity Tower)^[2] is a proposed development designed by Woods Bagot in Manchester city centre, England.^[1]

History

The developer proposed to build a 58-storey, 188-metre (617 ft) skyscraper.^[1]

The tower would have 420 residential units and a 220-bed hotel,^[2] 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.^[1] 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.^[3]

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.^[2] The cost of the development is around £220 million.^[2]

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.^[2][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 19 m (62 ft) 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]

• 
  The site for Piccadilly Tower in February 2008 (facing south)
• 
  The site of Piccadilly Tower in April 2008
• 
  Proposed height of the completed Piccadilly Tower, compared to the height of other existing and approved tall buildings in Manchester.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Piccadilly Tower, Manchester". Emporis. 17 February 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2005.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Barry, Chris (13 September 2007). "Piccadilly Tower Boost". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Inacity Tower Official Website". Retrieved 18 February 2008.
4. ^ "Building – 331 – Piccadilly Tower – Manchester". SkyScraperNews.com. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
5. ^ "Ballymore targets 620ft Eastgate Tower development in Manchester". Irish Times. 12 September 2007. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2007.
6. ^ "News: 60-storey proposal for gateway site in Manchester". 13 December 2004. Archived from the original on 9 January 2005. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
7. ^ "Inacity Sell Manchester Tower Plan To Ballymore". SkyScraperNews.com. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
8. ^ "Work Starts On Piccadilly Tower". SkyScraperNews.com. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
9. ^ "Work Starts On Piccadilly Tower". birsecl.co.uk. 26 March 2008. Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
10. ^ "Wayne Mellor Announces Piccadilly Tower Hold". Skyscrapernews.com. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
11. ^ "Gateway House" (PDF). Manchester City Council. 17 January 2013. p. 2. Retrieved 31 March 2013.