Manchester's iconic London Road Fire Station, which has been the subject of a long-running battle between owner Britannia Hotels and Manchester City Council, has been put up for sale.
Britannia Hotels bought the building in 1993 and has planning consent for the conversion and extension of the property to form an upscale 227-bedroom hotel, but campaign group Friends of London Road Fire Station (FLRS) have also called for it to be used as a community space.
Jon Patrick, Christie + Co’s head of leisure and development, said, “The average sale price of hotels in the UK increased by more than 17 per cent in 2014 and the hospitality sector is witnessing a robust period of investment both for individual and portfolio opportunities.
'Strategically located properties, particularly those with the character and history of the Fire Station make for superb hotel real estate conversions and we have been encouraged by the early interest generated from both the UK and overseas.”