St Peter’s Square set for next Manchester Motel One

Motel One has chosen St Peter’s Square as its third location in the city, with plans to build a 328-room hotel on the site of Peterloo House on Dickinson Street.

The 1970s office block is being developed by Property Alliance Group. Motel One has secured a lease agreement for the site, dependent on securing planning consent. Alliance is also proposing to build 93 flats above the hotel.

Previous owner AXA Real Estate achieved permission last year to demolish the building, to make way for a 105,000 sq ft office, designed by Squire & Partners.

However, when RLAM took control of the site as part of a property portfolio transferred in-house from AXA, it appointed Alliance to review development plans, and mooted the plot’s potential for a hotel or flats.

Stephenson Studio is the architect for the hotel, and will work alongside Motel One’s architect Leach Rhodes Walker.

A consultation on designs for the budget hotel is expected in the coming weeks. Contractor Russells is understood to be in talks to start on site with the project in May 2017.

Stefan Lenze, head of development at Motel One, said: “This is a perfect base for our third hotel in Manchester. The redevelopment of St Peter’s Square creates one of the most exciting urban spaces right in the heart of the city, so we look forward to working with Alliance to progress the development.”

This new property will join Motel One’s two other hotels in the city. The 298-bed Motel One Manchester-Royal Exchange on Cross Street is due to open in May 2017. The brand’s first venture in Manchester, the 330-bed Motel One at Piccadilly, opened in 2015.