Granada Forte has bought 4,970sq m (53,500sq ft) of offices in Birmingham for £2m. The chain intends to convert Granville House at 230 Broad Street – which has been empty for five years – into a 136-bedroom Travel Lodge.
Dating from the 1960s, the property stands opposite the Novotel, near Brindley Place and the International Convention Centre. Lambert Smith Hampton’s Charles Smith said the building had been on the market since summer 1995 as an office refurbishment opportunity. But some “lateral thinking” (with the help of Grimley’s Ian Stringer who had received enquiries from Granada), led to the change of use proposal.
Stuart Luck, Granada Forte’s commercial and development director, said conversion costs would be £1.5m. He added: “Broad Street is an ideal location for us,” he said. “I feel it is very much an up and coming area.”
Granada is due to open its first urban Travel Lodge in December at Southampton House, York Road, Battersea, London, SW11. Granada plans to set up a chain of Travel Lodges in urban centres to complement the Forte lodges which are located mainly near motorway junctions.
Lambert Smith Hampton acted for Cirrus Properties while Grimley advised Granada.
EGi News 26/06/96
