Carillion begins work at Manchester Piccadilly Place

04/04/2005

Support services and construction company Carillion has started work on a £25 million contract for key client Argent Group at Phase 1 of the Piccadilly Place project in Manchester.

The scheme comprises construction of a seven storey office headquarter building for Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), and a stunning new bridge designed by Wilkinson Eyre providing a vital pedestrian link to Piccadilly Station. The bridge will open up the heart of the site where a new public piazza will be formed. Also included in the project is a three-storey underground car park providing 600 spaces.

Work begins with the excavation of a 12 metre-deep hole – the largest to be dug in Manchester in the last 10 years – to accommodate the car park. Completion of Phase 1 is scheduled for December 2006.

Carillion account director John Rodaway said: “We are delighted to be working with Argent on this fantastic new development. It is an excellent example of the work that Argent undertakes in the successful regeneration of high quality public spaces.

“Carillion has a dynamic working relationship with Argent and hopes to build on the previous success of Brindleyplace in Birmingham and, more recently, One Piccadilly Place in Manchester, with this new and exciting development.”

The Metro runs right through the heart of the site providing superb transportation links throughout the city. The new public space, which spans the Metrolink tracks, will provide plenty of opportunities for ground floor activity and new access into Manchester city centre.

Piccadilly Place is being developed through a limited partnership in joint venture with the landowners, which will allow Argent to sell units in the completed investment, rather than individual buildings. This vehicle will become the umbrella for the ongoing management of Piccadilly Place and a catalyst for further regeneration of the Piccadilly area.

Note to Editors

Carillion Building undertakes commercial building works in all market sectors across the UK, but is primarily focused on the office, retail, residential and urban regeneration sectors. Since 1994 we have completed over £120m of work for key client Argent Group, including award-winning developments Brindleyplace in Birmingham and One Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester. We have also successfully delivered major office developments for Argent at Governor’s House and Alder Castle in London.