Approval expected to rescue Union Bank with £78m hotel
An application for a 251-bedroom hotel on Manchester Piccadilly, which Lamington Group plans to operate as a Room2 ‘hometel,’ is recommended for a green light by a city council committee next week.
The 2.4-acre site would become a 34-storey tower with 133,000 sq ft of gross internal floorspace.
Situated between Gore Street and Chatham Street, the development includes the vacant grade two listed former Union Bank building, which has stood by an empty lot for 20 years.
Parts of the bank would be restored, including the stained-glass windows and the ornate bank ceiling.
Avison Young submitted the planning application on behalf of Lamington Group.
The project’s architect is Bennetts Associates.
The ‘hometel’ concept combines elements of Airbnb and upmarket hotels to offer an alternative form of residential accommodation, providing kitchens and a mattress selection service.
Guests’ stays can range from one night to a year.
Ancillary public-facing uses include a restaurant, a ground floor café, an exhibition space, and a rooftop bar.
The development is expected to cost just over £78m with an estimated gross development value of £90m.
There are no plans to provide car parking spaces on site, but bicycle storage would be available.
A decision would be made in the city council’s planning and highways committee meeting on 29 August.
Also on that meeting’s agenda: Renaker’s £1bn skyscraper plan at Great Jackson Street.
Lamington Group has sites in London, Belfast, and Southampton and the group has committed to only build and operate to net zero standards since 2021. The group is expected to start work on a York hotel this summer.
Simon Erridge, Director at Bennetts Associates, said: “This is an ambitious scheme, which reimagines a vital part of the city and will transform Manchester’s skyline with the addition of a new landmark.
“The project will revitalise a currently vacant and unloved site replacing it with an active and accessible building, and the listed Union Bank’s key spaces will be restored and re-opened to visitors and guests alike.”
Involved with the Manchester project’s environmental impact assessment are Egniol Consulting, Ansley Horne Co, Urban Microclimate, Heritage Architecture, and Chris Burnett Associates.
Waterman, JLL, Price & Myers, KP Acoustics, and Eight Versa are also part of the project team.
The application can be found on Manchester City Council’s planning portal using the reference number 137794/FO/2023.
Looks awful, hope it isn’t rescued
By Anonymous
More good news for Manchester, jobs and incomes for loads of people and more quality accommodation for visitors
By Stuart wood
251 extra hotel spaces, parts of the old bank restored, and a 34 storey tower. Get it built.
By Anonymous
Lovely
By Anonymous
I like the roof, just not sure about the trees being open to the elements, especially in high winds …
By MrP
How many hotels have gone through planning for this site? Why is it such a difficult spot?
By Clouded Leopard
Finally something distinctive and fairly classy. SH and their chequered cladding and flat roofs nowhere to be seen because real architects did created this.
By The Squirrel's Nuts
An absolute blight at present & an awful first impression leaving Piccadilly. Get it built.
Would be better filled with HS2 arrivals.. here’s hoping
By Anonymous
Great that this site is finally being regenerated, though I think the base of the new building could do more to integrate with the old bank.
By GetItBuilt!
Well done Manchester
By Anonymous
Piccadilly could do with a lift – the stretch from the station to the gardens would benefit massively from being improved. More eyes on the street is a good thing.
By Good News
Reminds me of a Travel Tavern I once visited
By Alan Partridge
This development is going to be a major uplift for Piccadilly. Great design, and I love the green gardened roof with the point. Great news for the old Union Bank building too!
Renaker should take some inspiration from this skyscraper.
By Anonymous
Crack on!
By Anonymous
I agree with Good News. This area is a mess, and is the first place most visitors see when they arrive in Manchester. This is a start.
By Elephant
I think they should go back to the StephensonSTUDIO design. This definitely isn’t an improvement. but at least its not a SHP checker glass extruded rectangle.
By Anonymous
Yet another horrible design
By Anonymous
this will never get built
they are in dreamland
way too expensive and total greenwashing
By anon
Ah anonymous 2.49..I’m guessing you wouldn’t like any kind of design if it’s in Manchester 😉. This is actually pretty good and in the right place too. Well done Lamington group !
By Anonymous
Nice design and definitely needed in this area.
By Jo
Ridiculous over development and not the most refined design.
Not every building has to be a ludicrous needle to be considered ‘good’. This one is not even a good example of this type being dour, very bulky and completely unsuitable for the site
By Anonymous
I suspect anonymous 5.02 would be criticising the council if the listed building were to fall down ……which is exactly what will happen unless somebody finds a viable development that could save it. Let’s hope this is it. People’s willingness to criticise on this site is staggering………they must all be so perfect
By Anonymous
At least there’s something semi-interesting going on with the roof for once!
By Tom
@Anon 5:37 The listed building will not fall down with a shorter, more elegantly designed extension tacked onto it.
By Anonymous
Anon 11-15…… read the story…. smaller schemes have not been viable!
By A mm
@Anon 3:42 – it doesn’t mention viability at all
By Anonymous
There is a committee report on the Council’s Web site that provides a lot more information
By Don't be lazy