Whitbread plans Premier Inn at Mix Manchester

The 276-room hotel would be constructed within the £1bn masterplan.

Manchester Airport Group aims to submit a planning application for a Premier Inn before Christmas, with construction planned to begin next year, subject to planning approval. The Premier Inn brand is owned by Whitbread.

Located on a cleared site adjacent to Manchester Airport’s transport interchange and a quarter mile from the airport terminals themselves, the hotel would be the largest Premier Inn in the North of England.

The project is the latest to be announced by Whitbread and follows plans for a 229-room Premier Inn on Rochdale Road in Manchester city centre.

Jill Anderson, acquisition manager for Whitbread, said: “We are serious about continuing to grow Premier Inn across the North of England and offer the flexibility, security, and development expertise to acquire large hotel sites as we have done at Manchester Airport.

“Securing what will become the largest Premier Inn in the North is a significant moment for Whitbread and one which we are proud to have delivered. With passenger numbers growing strongly at the airport I’m sure it will be a popular choice for our customers when we open the doors and start welcoming our guests.”

Mix Manchester’s hotel district is gathering pace. Earlier this year, Dakota unveiled plans for a 154-bedroom hotel off Bailey Lane within the 60-acre masterplan.

As well as hotels, Mix Manchester is earmarked for a 2m sq ft multi-use science and innovation campus.

Gareth Jackson, group property director at Manchester Airports Group, said: “Whitbread’s decision to open a Premier Inn of this size at Mix Manchester is further endorsement of the complementary offer we’re creating here alongside the airport’s extensive transformation programme.

“It also demonstrates our continued ability to satisfy the growing demand for hotel beds at the airport, as well as providing science, innovation, and manufacturing occupiers we’re attracting to Mix Manchester with a range of additional leisure amenities.”

5Plus is the architect for the hotel, with ROC as the structural engineer. DFC is the fire consultant. Planit is the landscape architect. The project team also includes M&E and BREEAM expert CPW and acoustics guru Sandy Brown.