Russells starts on £8.7m hotel contract

WORK has commenced on the construction of a 147- bed Holiday Inn Express on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre.

Trafford Park-based Russells Construction started work on the £8.7m contract to build the hotel, following the completion of demolition work of the existing building. The 15-month construction programme is due to finish in spring 2010.

To comply with planning regulations the exterior of the 11-storey building will be finished in a black brick, with large glazed panels.
 
Russells will build a pre-cast concrete structure on piled foundations with glazing to the front, before erecting a traditional brickwork skin around the four elevations.

Prefabricated bathroom pods, constructed off-site, will be installed throughout, which the firm said would ensure uniformity and speed up the final fixing process.

Andrew Russell, managing director of Russells Construction, said: “We were up against some well known names for this contract and I was delighted to have won the tender. I believe it was the ability to demonstrate our commitment to high-quality delivery and our professional approach which has enabled us to build the relationship to secure this contract.

“The hotel sector is an area of our portfolio we have been keen to develop. This will be our tallest, most high profile building to date and we have put together a highly skilled team in order to deliver the project.”

The hotel is being constructed on behalf of Manchester Property Holdings.