Allied London has completed a deal to buy the London Road Fire Station in Manchester’s Piccadilly from Britannia Hotels, ending more than a decade of wrangling over the disused site.
Christie + Co was instructed to sell the building earlier this year for offers over £10m and received “unprecedented interest both from UK and international companies”, according to head of hotels brokerage Jeremy Jones.
The building has been largely vacant since 1986 but received planning consent in 2010 for a 227-bedroom hotel with a 316-cover restaurant and associated bars, a bistro and function rooms.
Manchester city council twice tried to compulsory purchase the building – in 2010 and 2014 – after Britannia failed to bring the development forward.
As reported by Estates Gazette, Allied London emerged as the frontrunner in a bidding process which also included Henry Boot and Old Trafford-based private property company Generation.
The purchase will see Mike Ingall’s property company add to its burgeoning assets in Manchester, which include schemes at Spinningfields and St John’s.
He said the building represented a “unique opportunity to create something truly iconic” at a time when Manchester is drawing increased interest from overseas.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester city council, said: “The acquisition of London Road Fire Station is very welcome news.
“It is a magnificent landmark building which had become a blight on the regeneration of the Piccadilly area during its long years of disuse.”
