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A 19th Century housing block in Manchester’s Northern Quarter could be repurposed as a hotel under plans put forward by its owner.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, plans put forward by the owner would see the venue redesigned as a boutique hotel spanning several floors, with the potential for more to be added, and a restaurant fitted on the ground floor.
According to the publication, Fraser Westbrook, whose property firm Agecroft Investments owns the Thomas Street site, said he has been trying for years to find ways to make the building financially sustainable and now believes he has done so by pre-letting it to a hotel.
Westbrook said of the planning application: “Until now we have not been able to find tenants who can afford to pay the rentals which are necessary to make the scheme viable.
“At this moment in time we are in discussions with Manchester Council planners to clear heritage concerns and hopefully we will obtain planning consent in order that we can start work on the site in the reasonably near future.
“It would be for a boutique hotel for three floors – if we’re allowed to go up that far – and the potential for a restaurant downstairs.”
Westbrook added that the council’s heritage report was due back at the start of March, at which point a planning application could potentially be lodged for the hotel soon after.
