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Manchester City Council Item 12 Planning and Highways Committee 14 February 2013 Application Number Date of Appln Committee Date Ward 100865/LO/2012/C1 2nd Nov 2012 14th Feb 2013 City Centre Ward Proposal LISTED BUILDING CONSENT for internal and external alterations to the basement, ground, first and second floors of Albert Hall to facilitate the use of the premises as a multi-purpose leisure venue including music led events, exhibitions, theatre, lectures, conferencing facilities, concert hall, banqueting, restaurant, cafe and bar. Including insertion of new structural steelwork between the ground and first floor, the reinforcement of the balcony at first floor level; the development of two alfresco areas; development of canopy on Peter Street frontage at ground floor level, mounting of acoustic wall linings to the first and second floor; installation of secondary glazing to first and second floor; installation of new passenger lift; installation of external signage; repositioning of existing organ; and the creation of new acoustic lobbies at ground, first and second floor. Location Albert Hall, Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5QJ Applicant Zecol Ltd, C/o Agent, Agent Mr Mike Hopkins, Jones Lang LaSalle, One Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, M1 1RG, Description Albert Hall is a grade 2 listed building and situated on Peter Street and within the Peter Street/Deansgate Conservation Area. The building is currently vacant and was last used as a bar on the ground floor with the remainder of the building being vacant. It was built in 1910 as a Methodist Hall and was designed for very specific and specialised activities. Originally, the basement was devoted to social work, the ground floor had smaller rooms towards the Peter Street and a larger lecture room. The first and second floor was the main chapel auditorium. Before it became a bar, the ground floor was used as a motor car showroom and sales area. The Peter Street elevation which is made up of seven bays, is largely three storey with a tower. This frontage is finished in polished granite and brown terracotta. The rear elevation is set back from Bootle Street and is constructed of simple red brick with windows to match the front elevation. There are a number of listed buildings close to the application site, including the Midland Hotel, Royale Club, Free Trade Hall, Lancashire House, Harvester House, Royal London House, & Sunlight House. Extensive refurbishment and alteration works are required to make the building suitable for the proposed use. These mainly relate to the upper floors of the building which have remained vacant for many years. The alterations are required specifically to make the building capable of meeting present day standards of design, structural safety, accessibility and environmental controls and regulations. The alterations include: Manchester City Council Item 12 Planning and Highways Committee 14 February 2013 Structural alterations to increase the floor loadings to enable the use of the first and second floor for public entertainment use including; the insertion of two steel columns at first floor, ground and basement; the insertion of intermediate steel beams to span existing beams on the underside of the ground floor ceiling; and, structural repair work to the cantilevered balcony to increase floor loading for Second Floor balcony The proposed ceiling beams would directly support the joists and therefore plaster would need to be channelled out to enable direct contact. The new beams would impact on the entire ground floor and basement ceilings and this would affect some decorative plaster. However, damage to the decorative plaster would be minimised and reinstated where possible. The balcony within the auditorium, which forms the second floor, would be retained and new beams would have to be inserted beneath. All plaster surfaces would be made good and soffits reinstated with plaster to match existing. A new canopy would be erected along the Peter Street frontage of the building. It would connect to the existing canopies over the two principle entrances to the building. It would shelter customers from wind and rain whilst waiting to enter the building. It would be positioned lower than the existing canopies, utilising the existing transom of the three central modern timber windows. The canopy proposed would be a slim glazed canopy, which would not be in contact with the historic fabric of the building. The canopy proposed is essential to facilitate the proposed public use of the building. A new canopy would also be constructed to the rear elevation fronting Bootle Street. This would be erected where the former skylight to the basement had been in place. It would be a lean-to construction, formed of wrought iron and slate. It is proposed to provide outdoor areas to enable customers to gather externally to the building in a secure manner. These are required to meet building and environmental regulations. They have been located and designed to minimise impact on the listed building and any impact on adjoining occupiers by reason of noise. The main tower has existing lettering within stained glass panels. It is proposed to erect individual white illuminated lettering on the tower the proposed signage would use the main pilaster and would have no impact on the significance of the listed building. It is also proposed that letters will be applied to the eastern flank of the building, affixed to a tiled wall. The applicant has indicated that they will apply separately for Advertisement Consent. The noise levels in the auditorium would need to be managed to prevent noise break out. This would require the insertion of secondary glazing to the windows of the auditorium in the form of 12mm laminated glazing within the existing reveals. It would be mounted independently from the original window. This would replace the existing secondary glazing at first floor level. The secondary glazing would be fully reversible and have no impact on the existing stained glass windows. There is a need to provide lift access from the ground to the second floor and it is proposed to create an opening under the main staircase to provide access through to an existing lightwell. A passenger lift would be inserted which would require minor Manchester City Council Item 12 Planning and Highways Committee 14 February 2013 alterations to existing masonry at ground level and the removal of masonry above existing window at second floor level. A ramped access would also be provided off Peter Street which would involve some minimal alterations to one of the internal/external steps. Acoustic Lobbies There is a need to install lobby doors in order to control noise breakout from the main hall into the stairwell. The following is proposed to the lobby areas: The four existing single leaf entrance doors at first floor to the auditorium will be enlarged and replaced by double-leaf doors. This will involve minor alterations to remove masonry and tiles and make good any damaged areas of file. It is understood that the lobbies have already been altered significantly over the years. The acoustic lobbies at ground floor would be created bringing forward the existing door frames, linings, pilasters, architraves and arched boxing. It is understood that the original doors to the lobbies have been removed and replaced with modern doors. The modern doors will be replaced by acoustic doors. An acoustic lobby would be formed around the existing stained glass and mahogany lobby entrance into the auditorium at first floor level. This will be fully reversible as it is completely independent The existing double doors at second floor level will be extended to create a secondary acoustic lobby. Whilst these doors do not need to be widened, the existing door frames, linings, architraves and arched boxing will be re-used and new acoustic doors installed. Viewing Platforms within the Second Floor Auditorium Two new viewing areas for disabled people would be provided within the second floor balcony/gallery, adjacent to the lobbies on the eastern elevation of the building. These would provide wheelchair access via the new passenger lift. Minor alterations to the existing tiered timber staging would be required. The Heritage Impact Assessment concludes that the timber seating is not of particular intrinsic value on the basis that the original seating has been removed. Acoustic Wall Linings to First and Second Floor It is anticipated that noise break-out would occur on the wall adjacent to Petersfield House and an acoustic screen would have to be applied to the wall. This would be formed by an independent screen in front of the existing wall. This would ensure that existing tiles are not damaged and the works are completely reversible. Relocation of Organ The Heritage Impact Assessment concludes that the organ was originally located directly beneath the organ pipes; it was moved twice before reaching its current location on the rostrum. In order to create more space on the stage the organ would be relocated close to its original location near the organ pipes. The Heritage Impact Assessment concludes that given the previous alterations to the stage and the organ, there is no impact on the heritage asset. Manchester City Council Item 12 Planning and Highways Committee 14 February 2013 Alterations to Existing Ticket Office The existing ticket office is located adjacent to the ground floor entrances, and was a later addition to the building, it is proposed to retain the office but remodel the opening. Tiles damaged from previous alterations would be repaired and reinstated to make a good clean entrance. Goods Lift The existing goods lift at the northern end of the building would be extended to the first floor above. This would allow the transfer of equipment of goods to the stage area at first floor.

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