Councillors have voted to defer a planning application to build international hotel chain Meininger’s first hotel in the north of England.
Councillors called on developers S Harrison, who submitted proposals for a 12-storey, 212-bedroom ‘hybrid hotel’ in Manchester city centre in August, to see “what is possible” to include additional disabled parking spots at the hotel.
The proposals currently include two parking bays reserved for disabled people.
At Manchester City Council's planning and highways committee meeting held last week, the developers said the “high quality design” of the hotel “will enhance the street-scape along Great Ancoats Street”.
“This will be [Meininger’s] first hotel in the north of England, providing a new offering to the Manchester market, diversifying customer choice and providing a variety of room types at varying price points, appealing to leisure and business guests, families and education, sports and community groups.”
The Yorkshire-based developers said the hotel would offer 785 beds, including classic doubles, private multiple-bed rooms and dormitories, and would create approximately 21 full-time equivalent jobs.
“We are committed to enter into a local labour agreement to maximise the employment of local people throughout the construction and operational phases of the development,” the developers added.
However, Cllr John Flanagan said: “I welcome this development, it looks like a fine hotel and building but there’s one big issue I have with it and it’s parking, parking for people with disabilities.
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“There are seven million people of working age who have a disability and we were just told...there’ll be 21 staff at this facility so it will be reasonable to say...four of them would have a disability, working on an 18.5 per cent average of working age people with disabilities.”
He added: “I’m not happy that we’re going to approve a facility that has just two disabled spots for a facility of that size.
“That’s a shame because 99 per cent of it I’m in favour with, it’s just that one crucial thing.”
Cllr June Hitchen, who seconded Cllr Flanagan’s concerns, also raised the issue regarding space for school trips and community groups.
She said: “I’ve gone down Store Street quite a few times and there’s generally no room at the inn for any coaches, it’s already fully utilised, so I’m a bit worried about where we’ll be putting those coaches when they’re utilised already.”
The committee agreed to discuss the item in next month’s planning and highways meeting on December 19.
Julie Roscoe, head of planning, building control and licensing at Manchester City Council, said: “The application is deferred with a minded to refuse resolution on the basis that officers will go away and see what is possible regarding additional spaces.
“First of all we would need to address the concerns that have been raised and whether there are reasons for refusal that could be sustained or we will come back with some additional information.”