Manchester airport hotel expansion takes off

With planning permission in hand, Dalata Hotel Group’s plans to build a nine-storey, 216-bed extension to the Clayton Hotel off Outwood Lane can take flight.

Manchester City Council granted planning permission for the 264,500 sq ft expansion to the Manchester Airport hotel on 26 April.

The Leach Rhodes Walker-designed hotel bedroom block will be built on part of the existing car park. The number of spaces in the car park will be reduced from 320 to 255. The parking allocations will be rejigged as well, with the introduction of 18 disabled bays and 14 EV charging spaces.

Dalata will also ensure that 11 of the 216 bedrooms will be accessible, with the larger rooms in the existing hotel getting a DDA-compliant makeover as well. This will ultimately lead to 5% of the 579 bedrooms at the hotel being suitable for those with disabilities.

To bolster the biodiversity on the site, Dalata will plant 13 trees. This is expected to deliver a 10% biodiversity net gain.

The extension itself is on track for a BREEAM Very Good rating, according to a pre-assessment estimate by consultant Sustainability Built.

The project team for the hotel expansion includes noise consultant Sandy Brown, transport expert AECOM, ventilation and energy strategist Patrick McCaul, drainage engineer Frank Fox Associates, and ecologist The Environment Partnership. The project manager is Tom McNamara & Partners.

Manchester Airports Group is the planning consultant, submitting the application on Dalata’s behalf.

You can learn more about the project by searching application reference number 138586/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.