Britannia Hotels has submitted a planning application to turn the former London Road Fire Station in Manchester city centre into a four-star hotel.

Under the plans, the old station would be turned into a 227 bedroom hotel, with facilities including restaurants, bars and function space.

It has been the subject of long-term negotiations between Britannia and Manchester City Council, which threatened to issue a compulsory purchase order to take the building last year because Britannia had not developed it.

The council has also held discussions with developer Argent, which built the nearby Piccadilly Place scheme, about developing a scheme on the site.

A decision on the planning application is expected by the end of August.

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