Piccadilly Tower

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name = Piccadilly Tower


caption = Render of how the tower is expected to look when completed.
year_highest =
year_end =
plural =
location = Manchester
coordinates = coord|53|28|42.96|N|2|13|50.88|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title
groundbreaking =
constructed =
est_completion = 2010cite web | url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=221761 | title=Piccadilly Tower, Manchester | publisher=Emporis | date=2008-02-17]
opening =
use = Residential, hotel and car parking
antenna_spire =
roof = 188 m (617 ft)
top_floor =
floor_count = 58cite news | url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1016243_piccadilly_tower_boost | title=Piccadilly Tower Boost | publisher=Manchester Evening News | first=Chris | last=Barry | date=13 September 2007 | accessdate=2008-02-17]
elevator_count =
cost = £220 million
floor_area =
architect = Woods Bagot
engineer =
contractor =
developer = Ballymore
owner =
management =
references =

The Piccadilly Tower (also known as Eastgate and previously known as Inacity Tower) is a major development designed by Woods Bagot which is currently undergoing site preparation in Manchester city centre, England. The development will provide a 58-storey skyscraper with a height of 188 m (617 ft). When complete the building will become the tallest building in Manchester and the tallest building in the UK outside of Londoncite web | url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=331 | title=Building - 331 - Piccadilly Tower - Manchester | publisher=SkyScraperNews.com | accessdate=2008-02-17] (a title currently held by Beetham Tower Manchester).

The tower will provide 420 residential units and a 220 bed hotel, as well as a fitness centre, conference facilities, restaurants and bars.cite web | url=http://www.inacitytower.com/ | title=Inacity Tower Official Website | accessdate=2008-02-18] New public walkways will be constructed along the Ashton Canal, which is adjacent to the site. A car park will be constructed in the three underground floors, with 349 residential spaces and 400 spaces in a NCP car park. There will also be a 17-storey "East build" section at the side of the main tower, with retail/commercial/residential occupancy on floors -2 through to 1, and residential units on floors 2 through 17.

The site was previously an NCP car park on a railway viaduct located to the rear of Piccadilly Station between Store Street and Ducie Street. It was purchased by Inacity for £14 million in 2003.cite news | url=http://news.myhome.ie/commercialproperty/2007/0912/1189076124200.html | publisher=Irish Times | title=Ballymore targets 620ft Eastgate Tower development in Manchester | date=12 September 2007 | accessdate=2007-02-17] The proposal for the building was submitted by Inacity in 2004cite web | url=http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/nc/ne/?id=101237 | title=News: 60-storey proposal for gateway site in Manchester | date=13 December 2004 | accessdate=2008-02-17] and was approved one year later, in March 2005. The total cost of the development is expected to be £220 million.

The project was originally a joint venture between Inacity and Merepark, but the venture has since been sold to Irish property developers Ballymore, with Inacity retaining a small share. This will be Ballymore's first development in the Manchester area.cite web | url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1081 | title=Inacity Sell Manchester Tower Plan To Ballymore | publisher=SkyScraperNews.com | date=30 August 2007 | accessdate=2008-02-17] The top four floors of the building will be occupied by Wayne Mellor, the chairman of Inacity.

Groundwork for the tower started in January 2008,cite web | url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=1333 | title=Work Starts On Piccadilly Tower | publisher=SkyScraperNews.com | date=29 January 2008 | accessdate=2008-02-17] and is expected to be completed in August 2008. The work consists of demolishing the 8 m tall arches currently occupying the site, the redirection of a sewer passing through the site, and the construction of a 19 m deep concrete retaining wall to the north, where the site is adjacent to a canal.cite web | url=http://www.birsecl.co.uk/html/company-news/view/BirseCivilswinsManchestercitycentreinfrastructurescheme.html?ContentID=126 | title=Work Starts On Piccadilly Tower | publisher=birsecl.co.uk | date=26 March 2008 | accessdate=2008-03-26]

References