Building work looks set to finally restart on a long-awaited project to renovate a Mancunian icon. London Road Fire Station has been the subject of many stalled developments since the last crews slid down the poles in 1986, with hotel group Britannia snapping up the 1906 building. In its heyday, the grade-II*-listed complex also housed an ambulance station, coroners court, and accommodation for staff.
However, rather than redevelop the building after it closed as a working fire station in the 80s — or after the coroners moved out in 1998 — Britannia didn’t change much. That led to Allied London buying the Edwardian structure — described by the Manchester Evening News on its opening as a ‘important addition to the municipal equipment’. READ MORE: Teenager in pink balaclava jailed for his part in shameful disorder in Bolton - and handed massive compo bill In 2017, the Spinningfields developers released multi-million-pound plans to transform the space into a boutique 91-room hotel, offices, apartments, a cinema, a luxury spa and bars and restaurants.
They received planning permission in 2018 , with Allied London promising to focus on ‘protection and preservation’ to keep its ‘Edwardian charm’. “We can now start a careful and considered process to create something quite special for our project,” chief executive Michael Ingall said at the time. “Now we have a detailed planning consent we can engage in detail with hospitality and leisure operators and we have one or two discussions at the detailed stage.
Work had taken place inside until 2022 (Image: Pam Parish) “We will ensure there is something for everyone, and for all those people who have such interest and history with the building, you will be always welcome.” However, work never got going ‘in earnest’ and has been formally ‘on hold since April 2022’, new planning documents say. They have been submitted in order to erect an advertising hoarding around the fire station.
“The Old Fire station site is currently undergoing redevelopment and conversion and works are continuing,” the planning statement said. “During redevelopment, when façade works have been underway, a scaffold shroud and banner advertisement have been installed on the corner of Fairfield Street and London Road. “Since April 2022, works have been on hold while Allied London progressed works on Spinningfields and St Johns Quarter, but are now recommencing in earnest.
” You can view the planning application for an advertising hoarding online here or by searching ‘140546/AOH/2024’ on Manchester council’s planning portal..
