Secretary of state Eric Pickles has rejected a bid by Manchester council to acquire a controversial redevelopment site in the city centre by compulsory purchase order.
The council had aimed to take control of the Grade II listed London Road Fire Station, close to Piccadilly station, from its owner, Cheshire-based Britannia Hotels.
The council argued that Britannia has failed to redevelop the prime site since it bought it in 1985. It had set aside £5.3m to buy the site and had lined up developer Argent to redevelop it as a hotel, to be operated by Park Plaza.
Britannia has received three planning consents for the former Edwardian fire station. The group has accused the council of delaying the site’s redevelopment by applying for the CPO and says that it is ready to go ahead with plans to transform it into a four-star hotel, once it has obtained listed building consent.
The CPO battle was subject to a public inquiry earlier this year, but the secretary of state today ruled that the council has failed to make a compelling case to acquire the site.
Britannia owner Alex Langsam said: “To the secretary of state’s credit, he has seen through the position by which Argent was chosen by the council to undertake this development when we could do it just as well. We will move ahead with this scheme and hope that the local authority will cooperate with us.”
A Manchester city council spokesman said: “We are disappointed and surprised at this judgement. This landmark building has been lying largely empty and disused for a quarter of a century while under Britannia’s ownership. What should be an asset for Manchester has become an eyesore and its condition has become such that it has been listed on English Heritage’s Buildings At Risk register.
“Our clear and consistent goal throughout this process has been to bring this building back into use so that it makes a positive contribution to the regeneration of Piccadilly rather than blighting it. We note that, as a result of the public enquiry, Britannia have made a public pledge to return London Road Fire Station to use as a high quality hotel as soon as possible. The people of Manchester will hold them to that promise and no one will be more pleased than us if they honour their words.”
daniel.cunningham@estatesgazette.com
