A preview of Gary Neville’s £400m ‘world class’ new St Michael’s development

After 15 years of meticulous planning, the former United Legend turned property tycoon, Gary Neville, launches his long-awaited £400 million landmark development, St Michael’s. 

The first plans submitted received a lot of objection, what with the two ‘dark towers’

St Michael’s will occupy a 1.6 acre derelict site in the city, and reinvent it into a world-class destination.

It’s not been without controversy, but the long-awaited development is about to come to fruition with an estimated completion date of August-September 2024.

Speaking about the development to I Love MCR he said: “A development like this takes people who have a real passion for Manchester.

“It’s a great development, with a top-class team behind it who love the city, who invest in cities and invest in places.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to travel around the world with football and see some amazing things.

“I always came back to Manchester,  which has admittedly changed a lot in the interim,  and thought –  Why can’t Manchester have loads of five-star hotels? Why can’t it have world-class venues, and the best restaurants in the UK?  It’s a brilliant city.

“We can be as good as anywhere and anyone. And better, too.

“I wanted to raise the standards, of products, services, and that’s the aspiration for this site.

“There’s a huge economic benefit to this site. 2,500 brand-new jobs in what is currently a hugely underutilised spot.

“We’re bringing to life a real energy in that space.

“There will also be a significant affordable housing contribution that’s much needed in our city too and across the UK.

“We’ve had our challenges. In many respects, one of the greatest post-career challenges I’ve had.

“It’s an important development for Manchester, and we want to set standards not just in the city but across the North of England, too.

“We want a world-class commercial building, one of its kind, high quality with excellent sustainability credentials, too.

“We’ve invested enormous amounts of time to ensure this is a world-class place. We’ve got a few hard yards to run, but we’re getting there.

“We’ve leased 48,000 sqft of this building already, and that’s no small feat.

“We are in the midst of uncertain economic times.

“It’s been challenging. It’s been challenging before, but Manchester has that resilience and keeps going and deals keep being done.

“The people are relentless. we don’t stop, and we are passionate about making things work.

“People visit, and they fall in love with the place.”

Relentless Developments

The collaborative effort between Relentless Developments and stakeholders KKR, Salboy, and Manchester City Council has transformed an underused area of the city into a vibrant destination for work, leisure, and living.

Manchester’s first fully net zero development

Set to become Manchester’s first fully Net Zero Carbon commercial development, St Michael’s is leading the charge in sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The visionary project aims to deliver not only a sustainable and energy-efficient operational building but also an environmentally conscious construction process, with a focus on achieving a BREEAM Outstanding rating.

Construction of the iconic 41-storey tower, a highly anticipated element of the project, is set to begin in the coming weeks.

The tower will house a prestigious 162-bed 5-star international hotel brand and 217 luxury residences, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the city’s skyline.

No.1 St Michael’s, the first phase of the development, offers nine floors of world-class office space designed to meet the highest standards of sustainability and well-being.

The Sir Ralph Abercromby pub

The rooftop features the renowned Nikkei restaurant brand, Chotto Matte, while a meticulously refurbished public square will preserve the historic Sir Ralph Abercromby pub, enhancing the area’s cultural and architectural significance.

The architectural and design brilliance of St Michael’s is owed to the collaborative efforts of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and Hodder & Partners.

SOM’s expertise in creating transformational urban spaces, combined with Hodder & Partners’ attention to heritage preservation, has resulted in a development that seamlessly merges modernity with the site’s historical legacy as the former home of the Manchester City Police headquarters.

St Michael’s is divided into two distinct phases. No.1 St Michael’s focuses on delivering exceptional office space, while No.2 St Michael’s encompasses the tower, the hotel, additional office space, and luxury residences.

Bowmer and Kirkland

Bowmer and Kirkland are already in the process of delivering No.1, with completion scheduled for 2024. Salboy’s exclusive build partner, Domis, will break ground on No.2 in the coming weeks, with the entire project set to be completed in early 2027.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the project, Gary Neville said, “This extraordinary scheme has been 15 years in the making, and we believe it to be the most sustainable commercial space in the city.”

Neville also expressed gratitude to the partners involved in bringing his vision to life and emphasised St Michael’s significance as a connection between Manchester’s business district and the historic civic quarter.

Nicky Barker, Managing Director and Head of Asset Management at KKR Europe Real Estate, praised the commitment to sustainability, stating, “We’re proud that the St. Michael’s project is being developed with the aim of achieving net zero carbon in construction and operation and targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating.”

Simon Ismail, Co-Founder of Salboy, highlighted the project’s contribution to Manchester’s growth and the enhancement of residential, hospitality, workspace, and leisure offerings in the city.

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, hailed St Michael’s as a defining regeneration project for the city centre, supporting its growth and creating employment opportunities.

With its impressive architecture, commitment to sustainability, and transformative impact on Manchester’s urban landscape, St Michael’s is poised to become a coveted destination for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.

The ambitious project spearheaded by Gary Neville and his partners has set a new benchmark for quality, aesthetics, and sustainable development in the city.