Member Article

Plans revealed for developing former Granada TV site into ‘event hotel’.

Development firm Allied London has commissioned Levitt Bernstein to convert the former site of Granada Studios into an ‘event hotel’ situated in the existing Granada TV Office building.

The concept is the latest in a series of collaborations between Levitt Bernstein and Allied London since 2000, which also includes the nearby No 1. Hardman Street.

For this project, the original Granada television studios and their associated production spaces will become a series of performance venues hosting live entertainment which guests at the hotel, known as The Manchester Grande, will be given access to.

The Manchester Grande will form a key part of the development of the St Johns neighbourhood.

The original building designed by Ralph Tubbs was the first commercial building to be built in the city after the war.

The first television appearance by The Beatles, numerous dramas such as Brideshead Revisited and Jewel in the Crown, factual programming such as World in Action, and the world’s longest running soap opera, Coronation Street were all produced there.

Gary Tidmarsh, Chairman at Levitt Bernstein said: “Granada Studios, in its day, was the most famous television studio after the BBC Television Centre.

“The creation of St Johns, with the exciting concept for the Manchester Grande at its heart will preserve the studios as a key part of Manchester`s heritage and cultural destination.”

A new link is proposed that will be created by removing the existing solid linking building that joins the two office buildings on Atherton Street and removing one of the four studios behind.

In its place, a glazed link will be built between the St John’s Quarter to Great John Street and beyond to Deansgate.

A secondary pedestrian route will be formed at the rear of the existing studios.

Covered with a translucent roof, it will link the hotel and music venues and will provide space for pop-up ventures such as exhibitions and more casual performances.

Adjacent to the Arcade, Levitt Bernstein plan to remodel the lower four-storey portion of the existing office block facing onto St Johns Gardens to form a ‘media hub’ – a flexible office space providing the option of multi or sole occupancy.

Michael Ingall, CEO of Allied London, said: “With the development of St Johns, we’re creating a new neighbourhood in the heart of Manchester.

“ A place that distinguishes itself by its unique cultural history, diverse mix of inhabitants, rich context and its position at the crossroads of Manchester’s network. The Manchester Grande event hotel fits perfectly with this vision.“

As well as spaces to enjoy music and entertainment, Levitt Bernstein are also creating a roof top lounge bar on the ninth storey which previously contained an apartment used by VIP guests of the studio.

This will be removed and replaced with lightweight structure which will read as a glowing box on the Manchester skyline, filling the void left by the iconic Granada sign which was removed in 2010.

The bar is to be constructed on a network of fine columns which helps to give the sense that the new addition is floating above the hall below. It will be called the Clarendon Club, named after the typeface of the original Granada sign.

A planning application for the project will be submitted by the end of the year.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .