Work began this week on the construction of a new 193-bedroom Premier Inn Hotel in Manchester.

Russells Construction has commenced the £10m, 18-month project on behalf of developer Property Alliance Group.

The hotel, located at the corner of Dale Street and Lena Street near Piccadilly, has been designed by Manchester architectural practice Stephenson Bell.

The striking 11-storey tower covers a ground floor footplate of just 835m2 and will be finished in a blue / black engineering-style brick, emulating the appearance of the nearby railway arches at Piccadilly Station.

As a specialist contractor of developments with tight footplates in the city centre, and having recently completed another city centre hotel with similar access restrictions, Russells Construction has appointed its major projects team to deliver the scheme.


Gareth Russell, Construction Director of Russells Construction, said: "We have been working with the design team for several months now and I'm pleased to have started work on the construction phase of this new hotel, which will be our second in the city centre.

"Manchester has held its own as a tourism destination over recent years and it's no surprise that, with demand also coming from business travelers and conference goers, big name brands like Premier Inn want to extend their reach in the city.

"This project offers opportunities for local contractors and the city’s hospitality workers and importantly provides increased choice for visitors and further boosts Manchester's appeal."

The hotel will be Premier Inn's fourth operation in Manchester city centre, establishing its presence in the Piccadilly district of the city and adding to Manchester's already increasing hotel room capacity.

Thanks to conferences, sports and entertainments events, demand for overnight accommodation in the city centre has remained high, despite the downturn. A recent report from Visit Manchester found average hotel occupancy in the city centre rose by three per cent in 2010 to 71%, up from 68% in 2009.

(CD)