Eastgate Tower sold

Will Manchester’s tallest building, and the tallest building outside the capital, still be built? The 188 metre (620ft) Eastgate project has been sold by Inacity to London-based developers Ballymore. The mixed use hotel and residential scheme was approved by the city council in March 2006 but has remained just a handsome model ever since.

Ballymore paid an undisclosed sum for Eastgate. Whether the proposed architects of the 58 storey building, Woods Bagot, will be retained must now be in doubt. The London company will though bring the extra muscle needed to see such a large project through to its conclusion. Manchester Confidential understands that half of the tower has been pre-let and a hotel signed up.

Ballymore may be new to the Manchester market but they are well established in the South, boasting high-rise residential developments such as Pan Peninsula Towers in London Docklands.