Albany Crown Tower

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name = Albany Crown Tower


caption = Render of how the tower is expected to look when completed.
year_highest =
year_end =
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location =
coordinates = coord|53|28|44.4|N|2|14|2.4|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title
status = Planned
groundbreaking =
constructed =
est_completion = 2008-2009cite web | url=http://www.metronews.co.uk/news/s/603862_city_towers_aim_higher_and_higher | title=City towers aim higher and higher | date=10 May 2007 | accessdate=2008-02-23]
opening =
demolished =
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use = Hotel / Offices / Residential
antenna_spire =
roof = Over 160 m (525 ft)
top_floor =
floor_count = 54
elevator_count =
cost = £83 millioncite web | url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=1873 | title=Building - 1873 - Crown Building - Manchester | publisher=SkyScraperNews | date=23 July 2007 | accessdate=2008-02-23]
floor_area =
architect = Ian Simpsoncite web | url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=244703 | title=Albany Tower, Manchester | publisher=Emporis | accessdate=2008-02-23]
engineer =
contractor =
developer = Albany Crown
owner =
management =
references =

The Albany Crown Tower (or simply the Albany Tower) is a planned development for the city of Manchester in England. Its proposed location is on Aytoun and Auburn Streets,cite web | url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=501 | title=Albany Assets Buy Crown Tower Site | publisher=SkyScraperNews | date=7 December 2005] fronting onto Rochdale Canal and near Piccadilly Station. If constructed it will be one of the tallest buildings in Manchester. It is expected to cost £83 million. It was designed by Ian Simpson, and is being developed by Albany Crown.

The original proposed height of the building was 131 m (430 ft), with 44 floors, providing 35,298.00 square metres of space. The ground floor will be occupied by retail stores, with floors 1 through 23 (140,000 square feet of space) occupied by a hotel. Floors 24 through 41 will be residential, while the top two floors will house a penthouse.cite web | url=http://www.albanycrown.com/ | title=Albany Crown - Manchester (Official site) | accessdate = 2008-02-23] In total there will be 237 flats. On 10 May 2007 it was revealed that Albany are now planning to add a further 10 stories to the main tower, increasing its size to over 160 m (525 ft).

Adjoining the main tower will be a smaller, 11 storey tower, at 49 m (160 ft), with approximately 14,500 square metres of space. This will be occupied by retail stores on the ground floor, and offices on the remaining floors.

The planning application for the development was submitted on 21 February 2005.cite web | url=http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=IC9DLZBC30000 | title=Manchester City Council: Planning Application Details (074821/FO/2005/C3) | accessdate=2008-02-29] Albany then purchased the site in October 2005cite web | url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=965 | title=Crown Building Faces Troubled Times | publisher=SkyScraperNews | date = 13 June 2007 | accessdate=2008-02-23] for £6 million. Planning permission was approved on the 11 November 2005.The site is currently occupied by a derelict 5-storey office building built in the 1960s,cite web | url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=199 | title=Another Jewel in Manchesters Crown | date=14 March 2005 | accessdate=2008-02-23] and occupied by the Labour Exchange, part of the Department of Employment.cite web | url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/191/191255_albany_wins_a_towering_6m_project.html | title=Albany wins a towering £6m project | publisher=Manchester Evening News | date=13 December 2005 | accessdate=2008-02-23] This was due for demolition in early 2006, however, it remains standing.The project is currently believed to have stalled thanks to the failure of Albany Assets to sell all the apartments in their existing developments.cite news | url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/business/business-local/tm_headline=albany-in-administration-as-property-sale-collapses&method=full&objectid=19257426&siteid=50061-name_page.html | title = Albany in administration as property sale collapses | publisher=Liverpool Daily Post | date=7 June 2007 | accessdate=2008-02-23] There have been reports of the possbility of Virgin Group boss Richard Branson opening the first of a chain of Virgin City Hotels in the tower. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1042265_virgin_in_new_hotel_talks Virgin in new hotel 'talks' - Business - News - Manchester Evening News ] ]

References