Gary Neville to rethink Manchester hotel development
It was reported earlier this week that the St Michael’s scheme, which Neville has developed in partnership with his former Manchester United teammate Ryan Giggs, had been halted due to backlash from conservation groups.
The site was set to include two bronze skyscrapers, complete with a 200-room five-star hotel, bars and restaurants.
But Neville said the plans for the £200m development were instead being refined to ensure the final design was ‘perfect’ for Manchester.
The changes will result in a short-term planning delay, but not a total halt to the development.
Speaking at the MIPIM property exhibition in Cannes, Neville explained his vision for transforming the currently dilapidated city centre site in to a 700,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme.
“Manchester deserves a world class development, like St. Michael’s,” he said. “We believe that in a city that aspires to be global, the best of old and best of new can live together.”
The original plans also included 14,000 sq ft of public space with al fresco restaurants.
However conservation group Historic England said the scheme would cause ‘irreparable damage’ and ‘erase’ the area’s history.
Neville admitted that the plans had not 'pleased everybody' but insisted he had tried to listen and amend the proposals.
The St Michael’s scheme is the latest hospitality venture from Giggs and Neville, who founded GG Hospitality in 2013.
The duo also backed the opening of Michael O’Hare’s restaurant The Rabbit In The Room at Manchester’s National Football Museum in 2016.
