Allied submits Fire Station plans

Allied London and its architect Levitt Bernstein have submitted a planning application for the London Road Fire Station and revealed design proposals for Old Granada Studios, across the city at St John’s.

The plans for grade 2-listed London Road, subject of a long-running battle for control between Manchester City Council and previous owner Britannia Hotels, have been eagerly awaited since Allied bought it in 2015.

Now submitted with the council, the plans include a 91-bedroom hotel, bars, restaurants, workspace and 21 live-work units, with new build elements added to the site.

A new hotel wing will sit in front of the existing London Road courtyard elevation, with the original façade becoming one side of a corridor connecting the two. According to Allied: “This extension is conceived as a metal tableau, designed to reference the site’s heritage and create a harmonious composition within the courtyard.”

In the Fairfield Street wing, the old firemen’s flats will be adapted to create workspaces and apartments, retaining original detailing where possible. A new pavilion in the central courtyard will provide access to an underground bar and event space.

The plans for the fire station would take total gross internal floorspace from 144,409 sq ft to 172,073 sq ft.

Although not yet submitted, design plans for the Old Granada Studios development have been revealed ahead of submission. The scheme’s commercial elements, including the co-working space OGS Works and original studio space, come under the umbrella of the Enterprise City UK concept launched by Allied in April.

The former Granada House, designed by Ralph Tubbs in 1962, will be converted into a 210-room hotel with restaurant and bar areas at ground floor and rooftop. A new glowing box structure will house the new restaurant atop the building.

OGSA new building adjacent will provide 22 new homes, workspace and retail units. The homes, a mixture of duplex and penthouse apartments, feature winter gardens or balconies along with access to a rooftop swimming pool and sun terrace. The commercial space here is complemented by modular units to the rear aimed at start-up businesses.

Your Comments

Read our comments policy

Related Articles

Sign up to receive the Place Daily Briefing

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox

Subscribe

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

"*" indicates required fields

Your Job Field*
Other regional Publications - select below