SOME of the most expensive homes in Manchester city centre could be built as part of the redevelopment of the Theatre Royal on Peter Street.
How many apartments there would be will depend on layouts and specification but they will be very high end.
The London-based Edwardian Group bought the Grade II listed landmark in 2012 to add facilities to its Radisson Blu Hotel next door.
Now Confidential has learned that as well as an 800 seat ballroom, ten huge hotel suites and a rooftop bar and restaurant they would like to add a residential element.
A number of large and luxurious apartments would sit above the hotel suites.
Stephen Miles, general manager at the Radisson Blu, currently the only 5* in the city, said: “How many apartments there would be I have no idea yet, much will depend on layouts and specification but they would be very high end, matching the best that the London market has to offer.”
The multi-million redevelopment of the Theatre site was supposed to be underway right about now but no planning application has yet been submitted and Roger Stephenson, the architect commissioned, will no doubt now have to tweak the scheme and floor plans to create some residential levels.
How high they can go will be a major issue for English Heritage but they will want as many floors as possible to maximise the location right opposite Manchester Central. There has been talk of a bridge linking the Free Trade Hall bit of the hotel directly to the Conference Centre.
Mr Miles, who also heads up the Manchester Hoteliers Association said: “We would now hope to start work late this year or early next.”
The Theatre Royal opened in 1845 and is thought to have been an inspiration for the exterior of the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden.
In the 1920s it was converted into a cinema and more latterly has been used as a bingo hall and a nightclub although thankfully the facade remains more or less intact.
It has not been in use for the last nine years. You can read Jonathan Schofield's history of the place here.
Theatre Royal
