Travel & Tourism

The vision to turn familiar Manchester tower into a beautiful new hotel

With a rooftop bar!

Daisy Jackson - 27th September 2024

Plans are beginning to take shape to turn a landmark building in Manchester’s NOMA neighbourhood into a beautiful new hotel.

New Century House – the Grade II-listed, 14-storey tower next to New Century Hall – could be transformed into a 196-bedroom luxury hotel.

And if it all goes ahead as planned, that might mean a new rooftop restaurant and bar.

The huge 1960s building has a classic modernist design and is a familiar sight in the Manchester city centre skyline.

Now MEPC, the Development and Asset Manager for the NOMA estate, is working with hotel and leisure specialist practice Jenics to secure a hotel partner to see the plans brought to life.

The former Co-operative Insurance Society, later The Co-operative Group, could be transformed into an hotel with views across the city.

The proposals at this stage include restaurant and bar spaces, plus conference and leisure facilities.

It would be at the heart of the NOMA neighbourhood, just a stone’s throw from the AO Arena, Manchester Victoria, and all the local businesses that have sprung up, from The Sadler’s Cat pub to the reborn New Century Hall music venue and food hall.

Plans for the new hotel include a sky-high restaurant space. Credit: NOMA

The new hotel would have great views of Manchester. Credit: NOMA — Plans for the new hotel include a sky-high restaurant space. Credit: NOMA

The area is also home to the already-acclaimed and Michelin-recommended Skof restaurant.

NOMA is already home to businesses including Amazon, The Co-operative Group, ath-leisure brand Adanola, Material Source, and Arcadis IBI Group.

Once a hotel partner is secured, MEPC and Jenics will submit a formal planning proposal to Manchester City Council.

Dan Hyde, development director at MEPC, developer and asset manager at NOMA said: “New Century House is a Manchester landmark and we believe now is the right time to bring it back to life as a hotel.

New Century House is a landmark in NOMA. Credit: NOMA

The building could become a hotel. Credit: NOMA — New Century House is a landmark in NOMA. Credit: NOMA

“It’s a natural next step for our growing neighbourhood with the building located either side of BNY at 4 Angel Square and the destination venue of New Century Hall.”

Jeremy Collins of Jenics added: “Manchester has huge international visitor pull thanks to its global connectivity, world-leading universities and sporting and cultural assets.

“New Century House is a rare and outstanding opportunity and will be a tremendous addition to Manchester’s visitor economy offer, both from a business and leisure perspective.

“NOMA has adopted a flexible approach to secure a ‘best fit’ occupier by way of either a virtual freehold sale or lease disposal. This approach will drive positive interest from a range of operators.”

You can see more on the proposals here.

Featured image: NOMA