Travelodge Hotel | Strand Street/Red Cross Street | 10 storeys

[Chris B]

From the Planning Explorer -

Application Number - 10F/0029
Site Address - Strand Street/Red Cross Street Liverpool L1
Proposal - To erect new 10 storey hotel with separate ground floor unit for use classes A1, A2, A3 A5 and B1
Applicant - FT Patten (Holdings) Ltd / Travelodge Hotels Ltd

This is either the surface car park adjacent to Kingston House, or the site of the Doll's House. Whichever one it is, it'll finally see a site being addressed that has needed it for a long time. Although Travelodge's can vary in terms of architectural quality, presumably with this being such a prominent site, the planners will ensure this isn't some cheap nonsense, and has a certain quality about it. I think though, with One Park West nearby, Mann Island over the road, and previous proposals for the Kingston House site suggesting something in the order of 14 storeys or so, they could have got another couple of floors out of it, but still, this sounds like a promising development.

[Ste]

Thanks for this Chris.

Great news. I think this is exactly the type of scheme that the Strand needs. I think along with OPW, Mann Island and the propsed Kingston House development, The Strand is starting to show signs that it can actually become a bustling boulevard rather than an inner city motorway. If the retail units/offices at the bottom of this building aswell as OPW fill up then this will only add to that effect.

As you mention though, lets hope that the quality of this building is up to scratch. I look forward to seeing the renders and hopefully some activity on site asap!

[buggedboy]

Great news! I think the arena may have had a bit to do with this. With the increase in business visitors caused by the convention centre, the other Travelodge is a little out on a limb. Having a second hotel will allow them to cater for business visitors, whilst the Haymarket hotel is more for the weekenders.

[dojo]

Kingston House and "the site of the Doll's House" mean very little to me, sorry; is this where that gym with the flashing triangular lights was (i.e. parallel to the least-finished bit of the Mann Island development)? Or behind it?

[Scarecrow]

Aye, That's the Kinston House site (that had Coopers pub at ground level). The Halifax Doll's House is further towards One park West.

[buggedboy]

Courtesy of Doug, here you go.

Kingston House is wrapped and on the right hand side. The site next to Red Cross Street is to its right.

In terms of size, I'd guess that the proposed building will be almost flush with the red brick office building, maybe a little shorter.

[Chris B]

This might help too - http://www.multimap.com/s/iyRxb9AD

The two sites in question are the car park to the left of the red circle, and the L-shaped former Halifax building, AKA the Doll's House, below the circle.

Unfortunately the related documents haven't been added to the application on the Planning Explorer yet, so we still don't know which site it will be, but as mentioned, they both need sorting out, so either is fine.

[Ste]

I hope its the Car Park as I would like to see the plans for Kingston House realised as I did like the renders.

[Dreamer]

This is great news, but as everyone has said it must be of decent quality and not like the formula 1 shite up the road

[Doug Roberts]

Chris good spot thanks for posting it up, as for the exact location you'd think the planning app. would more specific and agreed a few more floors on this, say up to 15, would look right at home. Another step toward what could be the finest city centre road in the UK outside London.

[Martin S]

This is a good location for a hotel - close to the Pier Head, Liverpool One, the Albert Dock and the ACC so I think that Travelodge should be able to offer some decent architecture and materials. They will probably have paid a fair amount for the site anyway. Comparing the existing Manchester Street with Brunswick Dock shows there is no 'house style' and the architecture of the hotels reflects what is expected in the location.

I can live with ten mikes - that is the height of the taller buildings on that side of the Strand and way taller than the Dolls House. If this is on the car park site then the Dolls House is going to look even more quaint sandwiched between it and One Park West.

[dojo]

It's just a shame it had to be a Travelodge - I mean, I don't associate the name with quality, yet for its location, I'd hope something a little more upmarket would have taken its place. Still, mustn't complain; it's better than another Tesco Express.

[Joe the red]

The Champs Elysees has a McDonald's on it.

I think sometimes we, myself included, can become too snobbish and overcritical of the authorities as to what should and shouldn't be allowed in certain locations.

Getting anything built there 10 years ago would have been cause for wild celebrations - now we bemoan a 3* hotel. Shows how far the city's progressed in a short space of time I suppose.

[Evertonian]

sorry but when you consider the views across the strand and the location in general, having a travel lodge there is a disgrace.

Really disapointing this.

[Joe the red]

I think we are about to set a new record - slagging a building off for its inappropriateness before even seeing a render.

Haven't you previously defended the Halifax building? You can deny it if you want cos I'll never find it anyway.

[woody]

Originally Posted by Joe the red

I think we are about to set a new record - slagging a building off for its inappropriateness before even seeing a render.

Woody's first rule , always wait until it built then you can slag it off

[buggedboy]

It's not a boutique by any means but as long as the architecture is decent, I'm not fussed what brand takes it up. After all, Easyhotel are taking up a pretty historic building (or were..that's all gone quiet), albeit further away off Exchange St East.

If there was a large demand for high end hotels here, I've no doubt more would have invested by now. Coupled with the Indigo hotel and possibly the one in Central Village (fingers crossed), we are getting an increase in high enders, but they are the tip of the pyramid and if the market says build more budget hotels, then build em high.

Actually, I think the Travelodge will get more business and so will be add more activity to the pavements around the area, possibly supporting the ground floor retail.

[and-r]

the majority of weekend trip tourists tend to prefer to stay in cheaper hotels so it will prob do a fair bit for the city centre economy

[Evertonian]

Originally Posted by and-r

the majority of weekend trip tourists tend to prefer to stay in cheaper hotels so it will prob do a fair bit for the city centre economy

I guess the reason I am disappointed that it will be a travelodge is because at the strand we have, with this and the kingston house project (and possibly one day, the dolls house), a golden opportunity to create one of the finest large boulevards in Europe.

The standard was set by the Cesar Pelli and the Hilton for me. Personally I cant see the travelodge matching, or even coming out half as good, in terms of design. Hope im proved wrong.

[thecityofgold]

The location needs an office building. The emphasis should be on creating an expanded commercial core.

Edit: By all means have a Travelodge but force them to build to 20 stories with the top 10 floors being commercial.