Intercontinental Tower, Manchester
Encyclopedia
The Intercontinental Tower, Manchester is a proposed landmark skyscraper for construction in Manchester City Centre
, England
. The proposed high rise will be a 5-star luxury hotel run by InterContinental Hotels Group
, and developed by Northern Irish Development firm, Benmore.
The skyscraper was first hinted in a press release by developer Benmore in May 2009 and the tower was discussed with Manchester City Council
in the summer of 2009. As of 2010, the tower is currently forms part of Manchester City Council
's preliminary plans to regenerate the surrounding civic quarter area of Manchester, though opposition to the building of the modern skyscraper in the heart of Manchester's historic district has been minimal.
The tower would also feature an ambitious helipad
and two decorative spires, much like the Willis Tower in Chicago
, which would take its pinnacle height to a maximum height of approximately 200m, 30m taller than Manchester's current tallest skyscraper, the Beetham Tower
.
Development firm Benmore, who have gradually invested in Manchester, speculated about a new skyscraper in May 2009 after revealing in a press release that it was in advanced negotiations to bring an internationally renowned hotel chain to the City - the first of that brand in the North West. Thus InterContinental Hotels Group
was touted after it was eyeing a hotel in Manchester to rival other firms such as Hilton and Radisson
in Manchester.
have held conferences in 2009 and will do in 2011 whilst the Labour Party
will hold conferences in 2012 and 2014 and already have done in 2006, 2008 and 2010. The backing of the Manchester Central through a £20m redevelopment is seen as an attempt by Manchester to make the venue the most popular conference venue in the United Kingdom
.
The tower would be close enough to the Beetham Tower to form a coherent cluster. Also planned in the initial designs is a dramatic helipad
perched atop the skyscraper which, if included in construction, would be the first of its kind in the United Kingdom
.
Manchester City Council
held a public consultancy of the plans, details of which were released in February 2010. The report stated one objection, from the Free Trade Hall
hotel in Manchester, a Radisson
run hotel in the City centre of Manchester. The report stated that Radisson that they had "no objection to the re-instatement of the theatre here [Library Theatre] but object strongly to the proposal to redevelop the site for a ‘tall’ building which they define as any building exceeding 15 storeys." The council acknowledged that "a new quality hotel" was being planned but responded by claiming that the "The principle of a taller building on this site was established when planning permission was granted for a 17 storey office building on 2 June 2005. The impact on the historic environment (and in every other sense) of a scheme of this height was considered to be acceptable at that time. Therefore, officers do not consider that development at the Theatre Royal site should not exceed 15 storeys." There were no objections raised by the nearby Midland Hotel however.
Manchester City Centre
Manchester city centre is the central business district of Manchester, England. It lies within the Manchester Inner Ring Road, next to the River Irwell...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The proposed high rise will be a 5-star luxury hotel run by InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group plc is a global hotels company headquartered in Denham, United Kingdom. It is the largest hotels company in the world measured by rooms , and has over 4,500 hotels across over 100 countries...
, and developed by Northern Irish Development firm, Benmore.
The skyscraper was first hinted in a press release by developer Benmore in May 2009 and the tower was discussed with Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the local government authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by...
in the summer of 2009. As of 2010, the tower is currently forms part of Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the local government authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by...
's preliminary plans to regenerate the surrounding civic quarter area of Manchester, though opposition to the building of the modern skyscraper in the heart of Manchester's historic district has been minimal.
The tower would also feature an ambitious helipad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
and two decorative spires, much like the Willis Tower in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, which would take its pinnacle height to a maximum height of approximately 200m, 30m taller than Manchester's current tallest skyscraper, the Beetham Tower
Beetham Tower, Manchester
Beetham Tower is a landmark 47-storey residential skyscraper in Manchester city centre, England. Completed in 2006, it is named after the developers, Beetham Organization, was designed by Ian Simpson, and built by Carillion....
.
Background
The skyscraper was first talked about in May 2008 under the name Theatre Royal Tower however the initial design was modified heavily to its current state. Its original height was increased from approximately 118m to its current 200m estimate.Development firm Benmore, who have gradually invested in Manchester, speculated about a new skyscraper in May 2009 after revealing in a press release that it was in advanced negotiations to bring an internationally renowned hotel chain to the City - the first of that brand in the North West. Thus InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group plc is a global hotels company headquartered in Denham, United Kingdom. It is the largest hotels company in the world measured by rooms , and has over 4,500 hotels across over 100 countries...
was touted after it was eyeing a hotel in Manchester to rival other firms such as Hilton and Radisson
Radisson Hotels
Radisson Hotels is one of the leading, full-service global hotel companies with more than 420 locations in 73 countries. The first Radisson Hotel was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1909, and was named after the 17th-century French explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson...
in Manchester.
Factors
A major factor in the proposal is the building would be nearby and close enough to be in the security cordon for the Manchester Central conference centre which has gradually become a popular destination in the city for business and political conferences. Manchester has been touted as the 'political conference' capital in recent years with political parties such as the Conservative PartyConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
have held conferences in 2009 and will do in 2011 whilst the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
will hold conferences in 2012 and 2014 and already have done in 2006, 2008 and 2010. The backing of the Manchester Central through a £20m redevelopment is seen as an attempt by Manchester to make the venue the most popular conference venue in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The tower would be close enough to the Beetham Tower to form a coherent cluster. Also planned in the initial designs is a dramatic helipad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
perched atop the skyscraper which, if included in construction, would be the first of its kind in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Radisson hotels
In October 2009, general manager of Manchester's Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Stephen Miles, believed the city had reached a 'tipping point' and believed the city would not see any major hotel investment for three years.Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the local government authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by...
held a public consultancy of the plans, details of which were released in February 2010. The report stated one objection, from the Free Trade Hall
Free Trade Hall
The Free Trade Hall, Peter Street, Manchester, was a public hall constructed in 1853–6 on St Peter's Fields, the site of the Peterloo Massacre and is now a hotel. The hall was built to commemorate the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846. The architect was Edward Walters The hall subsequently was...
hotel in Manchester, a Radisson
Radisson Hotels
Radisson Hotels is one of the leading, full-service global hotel companies with more than 420 locations in 73 countries. The first Radisson Hotel was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1909, and was named after the 17th-century French explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson...
run hotel in the City centre of Manchester. The report stated that Radisson that they had "no objection to the re-instatement of the theatre here [Library Theatre] but object strongly to the proposal to redevelop the site for a ‘tall’ building which they define as any building exceeding 15 storeys." The council acknowledged that "a new quality hotel" was being planned but responded by claiming that the "The principle of a taller building on this site was established when planning permission was granted for a 17 storey office building on 2 June 2005. The impact on the historic environment (and in every other sense) of a scheme of this height was considered to be acceptable at that time. Therefore, officers do not consider that development at the Theatre Royal site should not exceed 15 storeys." There were no objections raised by the nearby Midland Hotel however.
Historic district
Under the proposal terms the modern skyscraper would be built at the rear of the Manchester Theatre Royal which would restored and thus preserving the Theatre's future which has been the subject of speculation.See also
- Beetham Tower, ManchesterBeetham Tower, ManchesterBeetham Tower is a landmark 47-storey residential skyscraper in Manchester city centre, England. Completed in 2006, it is named after the developers, Beetham Organization, was designed by Ian Simpson, and built by Carillion....
- List of tallest buildings and structures in Manchester