The Launch of Picadilly Place Picadilly Place, Manchester Lancashire England
The Launch of Picadilly Place
Published: 1st December 2009
Developer, Argent Group PLC celebrated the launch of Piccadilly Place, the 675,000 sq ft mixed use development a week or so ago, with joint venture partners, the Carlyle Group (a global private equity firm and owner of Three and Four Piccadilly), Manchester City Council, the GMPTE and the City Inn.
"The Confidential viewpoint is that the development fills in the gap between Piccadilly Station and the Aytoun Street, proficiently and professionally."
The joint venture partners celebrated with many of the people who have been involved in the construction, design and development of this new gateway to the city over the last 10 years.
The completion of Four Piccadilly Place, the 110,000 sq ft Grade A office scheme, denotes the final piece in the Piccadilly Place jigsaw, and what was formerly a piece of derelict land in Manchester’s heart, has become a key regeneration project.
David Partridge, joint chief executive at Argent said at the launch: “Piccadilly Place is not just for visitors to Manchester – the important thing for us is that it has become a community which is, in itself, a microcosm of everything that is great about this city. A mix of uses, combining offices with a hotel, apartments, shops and restaurants, directly accessible via our new bridge around stunning new public realm. It is this diversity, which makes it feel like a real piece of city, and which has moved it into the premier league of office, retail and residential locations within Manchester.”
Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council said: “Manchester City Council and the GMPTE have been working with Argent in Piccadilly for more than 10 years, and we are delighted to mark the end of the current phase of development at Piccadilly Place. Together with City Inn and the Carlyle Group, Argent has transformed Piccadilly Place into an exemplar of mixed-use development, standing as a fantastic gateway to the city, and one which is truly worthy of Manchester's global stature."
Piccadilly Place has seen a spate of high profile lettings recently including solicitor, City Inn, Weightmans, The Insolvency Service, serviced office provider, Orega and most recently to the NHS North West. Three Piccadilly Place has also seen success through a number of awards for its sustainability, design, construction and facilities management.
The residential arm of Piccadilly Place, The Hub, has had a good start tool. In addition to a number of sales and lettings, in June 2009, serviced apartment company SACO opened with 48 units in the building, as part of its strategy to expand into all major UK cities.
The Confidential viewpoint is that the development fills in the gap between Piccadilly Station and the Aytoun Street, proficiently and professionally. If viewed impartially it's not quite as 'stunning' or 'fantastic' as stated at this launch – always occasions for hyperbole - but it is highly competent, especially in delivering for the city a new access route across the bridge over London Road into the Gardens or the Village.
No longer are visitors to the city faced with derelict land on arriving in Manchester by rail. Commercially the position seems to have worked, which is an achievement in 2010.
