Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs ’ £200m St Michael’s development in Manchester city centre has been given the full green light.
A consortium of investors including the Manchester United legends has been told the government will not review or ‘call in’ the council ’s decision to approve the application.
It is the final legal planning hurdle scaled for the footballers-turned-developers in what has been a controversial saga.
Neville , on behalf of the St Michael’s Partnership behind the skyscraper hotel proposals, said he was ‘delighted’ at the development.
Revised proposals were passed by the town hall in March, although the vote wasn’t unanimous.
“It’s been more than a decade since the idea to regenerate a strategic city centre location was first considered – and our whole team is very pleased that we can focus on delivering this project for Manchester, bringing new high-quality development that will enhance the city’s position both nationally and internationally,” the TV pundit said.
A new computer-generated image of what a public square in front of the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub would look like has also been released by the partnership, which also includes the council.
Giggs, the newly-appointed Wales manager, added: “I genuinely believe that St Michael’s is a truly brilliant scheme and will add to the quality of buildings currently on offer and improve the most central part of Manchester – a city that I love. It’s now about the hard work starting so St Michael’s can be enjoyed by people who both live in and visit our wonderful city.”
The partnership said the development off Deansgate on Jackson’s Row was expected to contribute more than £80m in gross value added to the local economy and £147m in government tax revenues over 10 years.
Manchester skyscrapers and flats
An impact study for the scheme estimated St Michael’s would create close to 1,500 jobs - with a further 270 jobs available during construction.
The development will include a luxury five-star hotel boasting 216 bedrooms and 189 apartments in a tower reaching up 39 storeys into the city centre skyline.
The old Bootle Street police station will become a five-star boutique hotel, with a retained facade, and the development will also feature office and leisure space, including an outdoor rooftop terrace.
The public square will be in front of the refurbished Sir Ralph Abercromby pub, with a new synagogue also being built nearby.
Neville scrapped original plans to bulldoze the pub and police station in July last year, tearing up the initial plans to start again with new architect Stephen Hodder.
The plans have also attracted criticism from Historic England and heritage groups, leading to revisions.
Council leader Sir Richard Leese said investment into Manchester was crucial to support the city’s on-going regeneration.
“The Jackson’s Row area has been underwhelming and underused for too long and we welcome the decision by the secretary of state to move this project in to the next phase,” he said. No timescale for preparatory work to start has been revealed.
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