Allied London releases Fire Station consultation results
Suggestions for Manchester’s London Road Fire Station include a hotel, bars, restaurants and cafés, alongside artisan markets, street-food traders, fresh produce sellers, theatre, museum, art gallery and pop-up retail.
Allied London was revealed as the purchaser of the grade two-listed building next to Piccadilly station in November. The fire station was put on the market in April with a price tag of around £10m.
The property has been the subject of controversy in Manchester for a number of years due to the property falling into a state of disrepair under the stewardship of owner Britannia Hotels.
At a ‘Create London Road’ consultation event held in December, Allied London’s chief executive Michael Ingall said that the developer was targeting a mix of uses for the building, including a boutique hotel.
The presentation incorporated data pulled together by campaign group Friends of London Road Fire Station, while Allied London broadly outlining its vision for potential uses, whilst retaining the original heritage.
At the event, Allied London said that it aims to have defined potential operators for the building, with a planning application submitted by August or September. Planning consent is targeted for March 2017.
There are several large spaces within the fire station, including the original Court Room and the 6,000 sq ft Engine House.
The consultation event showed the following as the most popular uses for each space:
- Basement: A restaurant, with a museum, arts venue, and pub also popular
- Court House: Film/TV production set, and educational use
- Bank: Gallery, pub, café or museum
- Engine House: Foodhall or market
- Boiler House: Market, café, arts venue
- Police Station: Museum, retaining links to the police
- Cells: Museum or spa/treatment
- Garages: Studios, museum and heritage space
- Ambulance Room: Retail and leisure
- Social Club: Pub
- Courtyard: Events space
Ingall said: “The opportunities at London Road are for distinctive and entrepreneurial businesses that understand service, quality, design, and above all experience. Brands will be unique and industry-leading, and they will become a part of something very special for Manchester’s iconic London Road.”
Architect Levitt Bernstein and engineer Cundalls have been linked to the project.
Allied London will hold a further consultation event in the coming months.
For full feedback results visit createlondonroad.com
