Piccadilly Tower | Ducie Street | 188m | 58 floors

[VDB]

Originally Posted by Sir Miles Platting

I think it's time everyone put LNG on ignore. Then he can spend the rest of his days on a slow train commuting to London bitching and complaining and posting to himself.

It would just be a matter of time before he put himself on ignore.

[monkey_rat]

Is there a thread he hasn't yet turned into a conversation about the banking crisis?

[VDB]

Originally Posted by monkey_rat

Is there a thread he hasn't yet turned into a conversation about the banking crisis?

He's just obsessed with making sure the world has no hope.

[hifive605]

this thread has become like the bishopsgate tower thread in london. i.e. going nowhere and frustrating

[Cherguevara]

To be fair, you can't discuss schemes like this without reference to the banking crisis. Unlike Kurt, I don't believe that the credit crunch has prevented a resurgence of tall buildings in Manchester for evermore; but while our banks are risk averse and our economy flat he is right in saying that nothing like the Piccadilly tower is going to begin construction.

We should also be cautious about wishing for more schemes like this anyway. As much as we may like tall buildings, they are symptomatic of irrational exuberance in the financial markets, and even in good times should be feted cautiously.

It is far more important that Manchester develop a robust and varied economy to support its continued economic and physical regeneration and begin its social renewal than it is that we throw up 50 storey buildings.

[VDB]

Yep, tall buildings like this would just saturate the market.

Rather than one big tower, I'd prefer to see lots of midrise office blocks/hotels and residentials. Lets make the city and the surrounding brownfield land look attractive as a place to live and then build upwards when there's a demand surge.

We'll get the tall buildings before long, but not yet Growth is on the way though!

[nicky2tu]

Originally Posted by Cherguevara

To be fair, you can't discuss schemes like this without reference to the banking crisis. Unlike Kurt, I don't believe that the credit crunch has prevented a resurgence of tall buildings in Manchester for evermore; but while our banks are risk averse and our economy flat he is right in saying that nothing like the Piccadilly tower is going to begin construction.

We should also be cautious about wishing for more schemes like this anyway. As much as we may like tall buildings, they are symptomatic of irrational exuberance in the financial markets, and even in good times should be feted cautiously.

It is far more important that Manchester develop a robust and varied economy to support its continued economic and physical regeneration and begin its social renewal than it is that we throw up 50 storey buildings.

Absolutely Che. Well said. Tall buildings can play a big role in sustainable development but they can also throw up as many challenges as they solve. Careful consideration of each scheme is required for sure.

[Uomo Senza Nome]

LNG Cats is right. Only one skyscraper was built in the UK outside London in all of the UK's history. What chance another, anywhere soon?

Bah.

[Chogmook]

Apologies for the thread bump!

But with the plans for HS2 finally revealed, this site is set to be absolutely prime for high quality, high density development.

Is the planning permission for the tower still in the extension period, as a high end hotel operator could surely still take half the tower at least, or has time finally elapsed on the 188m of shimmering glass?

Or do you reckon we could even see something more spectacular?

[Uomo Senza Nome]

If you assume the landowner is 40+ then he has no interest in this plot with regard to HS2, because he will be long dead before any personal gain?

[Cherguevara]

Originally Posted by Uomo Senza Nome

If you assume the landowner is 40+ then he has no interest in this plot with regard to HS2, because he will be long dead before any personal gain?

The land owner is the Irish Government

[hulmeman2]

Originally Posted by Chogmook

Apologies for the thread bump!

But with the plans for HS2 finally revealed, this site is set to be absolutely prime for high quality, high density development.

Is the planning permission for the tower still in the extension period, as a high end hotel operator could surely still take half the tower at least, or has time finally elapsed on the 188m of shimmering glass?

Or do you reckon we could even see something more spectacular?

He sits, sipping a cherished Chablis on the 60th floor of Piccadilly Tower, gazing through his large window at an immense tunnel-boring machine, as it ascends through the dirt of Ardwick, pointing majestically toward him............

[Uomo Senza Nome]

Originally Posted by Cherguevara

The land owner is the Irish Government

Well, where are we in the list of reclaimed property portfolios worth developing?


lol

[ferge]

This was one of the first thoughts I had too, lol. Surely if this has the slightest sign of a pulse left then it potentially could happen with HS2. It would become one of the region's hottest property assets. There'd be no better way to mark the arrival into Manchester then one of the country's tallest buildings looming over the terminal station; a brilliant bookend to the Shard in a sense. We were robbed with not getting Piccadilly tower, I hope we get something of its mass and calibre (if not taller!) for this site that would be a beacon for the city visible from across the region, a real advocate for Manchester-London business.

[Seasonedbest]

What difference would building one of the country’s tallest buildings virtually on top of the station make, in comparison to building it on the NOMA site for instance? Absolutely nothing. In fact in all likelihood, most visitors would completely miss it, straight into Piccadilly and out the back and not see a thing, just the bottom of a building.

[jrb]

Originally Posted by Seasonedbest

What difference would building one of the country’s tallest buildings virtually on top of the station make, in comparison to building it on the NOMA site for instance? Absolutely nothing. In fact in all likelihood, most visitors would completely miss it, straight into Piccadilly and out the back and not see a thing, just the bottom of a building.

I think you might just see Piccadilly Tower as you enter the city via HS2. Especially when it's basically right on top of you.

BOOM!

[js1000]

Originally Posted by Seasonedbest

What difference would building one of the country’s tallest buildings virtually on top of the station make, in comparison to building it on the NOMA site for instance? Absolutely nothing. In fact in all likelihood, most visitors would completely miss it, straight into Piccadilly and out the back and not see a thing, just the bottom of a building.

Meh... I had stood on a rainy platform 13 numerous times and thought "wouldn't it be fantastic with a 200 metre right over the station". A lot of people, particularly from London, think provincial cities are all dead industrial wastelands. Put a 200m tower on entering Piccadilly and the ignorance vanishes.

Beetham Tower had a similar effect. It was a shock for many southerners who are use to London to see a provincial, Northern city with a genuine skyscraper. Southerners are a bit fickle like that.

I actually like the 'staggered oblong' design of Piccadilly Tower.

[Farsight]

It never ceases to surprise me that with transport links being so important and all, the area north-ish of Piccadilly Station has remained a wasteland for decades. Does anybody know why?

[monkey_rat]

The hulking impenetrable mass of Piccadilly means that access isn't great and therefore the land less attractive, hence why I asked the question about if the Metrolink stop was accessible from Sheffield Street - this sort of thing is crucial in lifting an area.

It's the case in a lot of cities that you tend to have no-man's land on one side of a major station.

[JackoGunnerGoCrazy]

Is there any decent news on this project around at the moment? Judging by how this thread isn't really about the tower anymore I assume this is dead and buried...such a shame, Manchester likes to throw away opportunities but this was painfully close to fruition. A couple of iconic buildings short of being a world class city.