Council revisits London Road Fire Station CPO
Members of Manchester City Council's executive will be asked to approve the making of a second compulsory purchase order on the London Road Fire Station in a bid to ensure the derelict building is brought back in to use.
The grade 2*-listed building has been in the hands of Britannia Centre since 1986 but they have yet to begin any redevelopment work.
Manchester City Council previously sought a Compulsory Purchase Order of the building in 2010 in an attempt to secure the building and drive a programme of development. This was rejected by a government inspector after Britannia assured a public inquiry in 2011 that works to develop the building were imminent.
In October this year, Britannia were given the opportunity to enter into a legally binding implementation agreement to develop the property as a hotel and to allow joint structural surveys of the building to take place. The council said the response from Britannia was "not satisfactory".
A spokesman for the council said: "London Road Fire station is a landmark property that occupies a key site in the ongoing regeneration of Piccadilly – an important gateway into the city. Despite this, the property has lain empty and largely disused for more than 20 years.
"Through this CPO the city council aims to bring about the swift regeneration of one of the city's major undeveloped heritage gems through a development partnership to safeguard its future."
