Marshall starts work on Portland Street hotel for Property Alliance

Marshall has started work on a hotel and casino for developer Property Alliance Group on Portland Street in Manchester, with a completion date set for August 2019.

Designed by Stephenson Studio, the project will include the construction of a 189-bed, 94,000 sq ft hotel, alongside a 16,000 sq ft casino.

Alongside, PAG have proposals to refurbish the 55 Portland Street office.

The contractor has started work on the new-build element of the scheme, with the hotel due to be commissioned in late 2019.

Bespoke Hotels is now on board as hotel operator, replacing the original operator Park Plaza.

Groundworks are due to run until early 2018 with the 20-week podium construction starting soon after. The 33-week concrete frame construction programme is set to begin next summer.

Turley is planning consultant on the scheme with Ce2 on board as M&E consultant.

Plans for the project were originally lodged in 2015 and approved in early 2016. However, a series of amendments including the removal of the basement car park and the increase in casino floor space were submitted in early 2017, and approved in May this year.

Key changes since the original planning application now show the casino occupying the entire basement level of the hotel, while the building’s restaurant has been relocated from the first floor to the ground floor.

The office proposal has remained unchanged since the original planning application.