Allied London confirms September start for London Road Fire Station

Allied London has confirmed it will start work on its overhaul of London Road Fire Station in Manchester this September as the developer’s chief executive Michael Ingall hinted at a hotel operator and anchor tenants being secured.

The prolific developer first submitted plans for the redevelopment of the prominent grade two-listed site just behind Piccadilly Station in May last year, having bought it from previous owner Britannia Hotels in 2015. Ingall has now confirmed plans to start on site in September, with anchor tenants now said to be in place.

A management company for the Fire Station was set up in April this year at Companies House, with Ingall listed as a director alongside Suresh Gorasia, Allied London’s chief operating officer; corporate director Jonathan Raine; and financial director Freddie Graham-Watson. Similarly, an operating company was set up in January with the same four directors.

Plans for the site, designed by architect Levitt Bernstein, include a 91-bed hotel, bars, restaurants, workspace, and 21 live-work units, with new build extensions also part of the proposals. Extensions will take the gross internal floorspace at the building from 144,400 sq ft to 172,100 sq ft.

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.

Zetter Hotels, which operates boutique hotels in London, was previously lined up as operator for this part of the development in 2016.

Meanwhile, 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. A main contractor appointment is expected soon.

Allied London declined to comment but further announcements are expected on the Fire Station’s future in the coming months.