LONDON ROAD Fire Station looks set to change its name to simply London Road when property giant Allied London moves into the property in March 2016.
Having the lights back on in the London Road Fire Station is, in essence, the goal
In a private meeting with the Friends of London Road Fire Station, Michael Ingall, CEO of Allied London, said the previous idea for a new name, Manchester Firehouse, sounded too small, too like a steakhouse.
He expects to see the redevelopment results within three years but exactly what will fill the last major listed but neglected property in the city centre has yet to be decided. Perhaps surprisingly he said that much of the key interior historic detail in the building is not beyond repair. The coroner’s court, pictured on this page, was a case in point.
As Confidential has relentlessly reported over the last few years the traumatic story of thirty years of deception from owners Britannia Group about their intentions over the property had made many fear much of the building was beyond redemption. Apparently this is not the case.
"Contrary to popular belief, much of London Road is not beyond repair - it really isn't as bad as it seems," Ingall told a very well attended and lively Create London Road public meeting at Granada Studios. "Anyway, I quite like an element of deterioration, it means you can almost start from scratch, taking advantage of the original building and the stripped back features."
Ingall said the ambition from Allied London was to preserve the original spaces as best they can working with individual designers who ‘get’ the building. "We want London Road to become an 'international landmark’ for Manchester, in the same way the Civil Justice Centre, the John Rylands Library or even the Beetham Tower have become international landmarks," he told the crowd.
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Coroner's Court as depicted in the Create London Road brochure
He pointed out that for the undisclosed sum Allied London paid for the London Road Fire Station there was no way the building could be built now. Therefore the level of intricate decoration and functional detail of the building should be celebrated and enhanced. How this could not and must not be a plain refurbishment was made clear.
Its location, which is certainly not within the established commercial areas of central Manchester, might, Ingall thought, be turned to advantage given the proximity to the Piccadilly Station. Essentially companies working out of both Manchester and London will be literally a couple of hours away from each other by train.
He stressed the building will have to be commercial, and acknowledged that "tensions around commerciality may arise in the future", but in what manner was yet to be decided – offices, hotels, residential or a combination of all of these might be the result. He felt restaurants could certainly make use of areas such as the Ambulance Room. Meanwhile there was certainly room for elements such as the courtyard to be publicly accessible.
The Friends of London Road Fire Station, who have fought indefatigably and courageously for action over the neglected building, are keen that a botanical gardens be inserted within the courtyard with public access. The truth is it’s all up for grabs and in the end any well-thought through activity within the re-born building would be most welcome. Having the lights back on in the London Road Fire Station is, in essence, the goal.
London Road Fire and Police Station dates from 1906 by Woodhouse and Willoughby. It is a festival of brick and terracotta alive with stylised sculptures and even eagles on the tower looking out across the city for any tell-tale signs of emergency. At one time there was accommodation for 40 police, firemen and families with garages for fire engines and ambulances plus a bank, library, gym, club, playground and a coroner’s court.
"By summer next year we'd like to have made the building safe for people to look around," said Ingall as he closed the meeting. "We hope to have a planning application in by September 2016, with consent granted around March 2017.
"Still, with a listed building of this significance, I doubt it'll be that straightforward."
London Road Fire Station
The Social Club: as depicted in the brochure
