Manchester council and developer La Sande have dropped French hotel operator Accor from their plans for the controversial redevelopment of the city’s historic Free Trade Hall.
Earlier this year, Accor unveiled plans to open a 233-bedroom hotel on the site but since then has failed to meet the deadlines agreed with the council and developer La Sande.
John Lutton, managing director, of La Sande, said: “This has been a major setback for us, it’s put us behind schedule and cost a lot of money. We had no option but to come to this decision – the dates within the development agreement were in danger of not being met.”
The council, La Sande and new development partner Riverland Developments, have now entered into a six-month period of exclusivity with Radisson Edwardian for the operator deal on the proposed five-star hotel.
A scaled-down version of the original hotel proposal has been unveiled and a detailed application will be submitted in July. The original plan for a 24-storey tower was thrown out by John Prescott in October 1998.
Construction is due to start in early 2001.
Agents for the scheme are GVA Grimley and Lambert Smith Hampton.
EGi News 22/06/00
