Developers set sights on Manchester’s Piccadilly

THE area around Manchester’s Piccadilly Station is attracting interest from developers and investors, according to the city’s chief executive.

But speaking yesterday at a business breakfast organised by the networking group Downtown Manchester in Business, Sir Howard Bernstein said the council needed to “stimulate the market” to pull off more schemes like office district Spinningfields.

Earlier this year the council bought land from Spinningfields developer Allied London to help speed up the next round of construction.

Sir Howard said: “Piccadilly and Back Piccadilly seem to an area of interest to developers and investors at the moment and the new Co-op HQ is set to extend the northern boundary of the city centre offering new opportunities.

“However, we need to stimulate the market place as a whole to continue creating the quality office accommodation that there is a real demand for in the city, product like Spinningfields. Designs for the regeneration of St Peter’s Square have been shortlisted and a public consultation is imminent so that too will boost activity and pave the way for the Oxford Road Corridor regeneration plans.”

The council considers the redevelopment of London Road Fire Station, opposite the station, to be instrumental in the regeneration of the Back Piccadilly area.

It has threatened to compulsorily purchase the site which has been left undeveloped by its owner Britannia Hotels for around 20 years. Earlier this month the Hale-based group submitted new plans for a 227-bedroom 4-star hotel.