Kingsway books village hotels at the gateway to Rochdale
8 October 2007, Rochdale, Manchester. Kingsway Partnership (Wilson Bowden Developments and North West Regional Development Agency assisted by the Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council) has received planning approval for a joint application with De Vere for Village Hotels to locate its newly invigorated concept at the £350m, 170 hectare (420 acre) Kingsway Business Park.
The facility will be constructed 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 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 approved 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 facilities 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.”
“Village Hotels is already in discussion with the Kingsway Recruitment Team in order to source as many employees for the 200 jobs locally. We look forward to welcoming Village Hotels to Kingsway.”
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. Kingsway, more than any other site, offered us a unique package of benefits which we wouldn’t receive at other locations – the recruitment service is particularly helpful and a cost-effective way to recruit staff. 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.”
This Village Hotels facility will 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. Construction on site is due to begin January 2008 with completion scheduled for December 2008.
Erinaceous Group and Jones Lang LaSalle are the appointed agents on the Kingsway Business Park, Rochdale for Kingsway Partnership.