KINGSWAY BOOKS VILLAGE HOTELS AT THE GATEWAY TO ROCHDALE
Kingsway Partnership (Wilson Bowden Developments and North West Regional Development Agency assisted by the Rochdale Development Agency) has agreed a deal with Village Hotels to locate its newly invigorated concept at the £350m, 170 hectare (420 acre) Kingsway Business Park.
The Kingsway Partnership and De Vere Hotels have jointly submitted a planning application on the 1.62 hectare (4 acre) Plot C1 adjacent to Junction 21 of the M62 motorway. This plot is an important aspect of the overall masterplan for Kingsway and Village Hotels will create a landmark building here. The striking design submitted in the application and the suggested location offers high visibility on and off site and provides ease of access from the motorway junction and newly created Spine Road presenting a new access route into Rochdale town centre.
The application is for a 120-bed hotel with a gross internal area of 9,250 sq m (99,569 sq ft) breaking down into 3,036 sq m (32,680 sq ft) of hotel, 677 sq m (7,287 sq ft) of conference facilities a 235 sq m (2,530 sq ft), restaurant 188 sq m pub (2,024 sq ft), 1,787 sq m (19,236 sq ft) of leisure, health and beauty and 300 car parking spaces.
Robert Grafton of Wilson Bowden Developments comments:
“Village Hotels is a fantastic name to start the ball rolling at Kingsway and the quality of the offering will give both the site and the community a valuable asset to generate future investment. Interest in Kingsway remains high and we are hoping to sign up further occupiers in the next few months to join Village Hotels as one of the first major occupiers on site.”
Offering contemporary accommodation, first class health and fitness facilities including a 25 metre swimming pool and seasonally changing menus in both its on site pub and restaurant – this marks the continuation of the rapid expansion plans of the new and exciting Village Hotel concept across the UK. In addition, the architectural design of the hotel protects the integrity of the Kingsway site and the longer-term environment being created. It is envisaged that Village Hotels’ reputation, the high quality design and hub of activity being brought to site will act as a driver for future investment expected at Kingsway.
Richard Kiersey of Village Hotels comments:
“Kingsway represents the perfect location for us to showcase our reinvigorated Village concept. The design of the hotel, the strategic location in between Leeds and Manchester and the quality of the environment offers an ideal package for us. We are looking forward to joining the Rochdale community and hope that the hotel will be a hub for local people and the business community alike.”
The introduction of Village Hotels to Rochdale presents an opportunity to create 200 jobs, a large proportion of which will be recruited locally. The types of jobs being created will cover administration, health and beauty, conference organisation, financial management, reception, catering, security and porters.
John Hudson of the Rochdale Development Agency comments:
“The new Village Hotel will create a contemporary landmark building on the main motorway access to Kingsway which is an important gateway into Rochdale. It is excellent to have this facility in place for the 7,000 employees who will eventually be based at Kingsway as well as the more immediate benefit of creating 200 new jobs.”
Designs for the buildings have been drawn up by DLA.
Erinaceous Group and Jones Lang Lasalle are the appointed agents on the Kingsway, Rochdale for Kingsway Partnership.