Neville’s new plans for city skyscraper
GARY Neville’s new design for a skyscraper in Manchester city centre has been revealed.
The lozenge-shaped 39-storey glass tower would sit on Jackson’s Row, off Deansgate, and contain a mix of apartments and a luxury hotel.
It replaces designs for two bronzeclad blocks, which were earmarked for the same site but would have required more historic buildings to be demolished.
The former Manchester United and England footballer believes the new proposals for the St Michael’s scheme will have less impact on surrounding heritage and a more ‘elegant’ profile than the originals.
But Neville insists he is ‘taking nothing for granted’ when it comes to planning permission. The original designs by Ken Shuttleworth of architects Make - submitted as a planning application in February sparked uproar from some residents and experts when they were unveiled.
They were also slammed by Historic England for being harmful to nearby listed architecture.
Architect Steve Hodder was then hired at the start of the summer to go back to the drawing board.
Stage one of the redesign, including the announcement that the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub would no longer be demolished, was unveiled in July. Today, the skyscraper design is being revealed in a public exhibition at the Royal Exchange, along with more detailed images of a public roof garden on Bootle Street.
It is understood Historic England’s view on the new version has been ‘encouraging,’ but the organisation has still to comment. Neville admitted the original designs had sparked ‘national interest’ and ‘passionate views in Manchester,’ adding he had been ‘shocked and surprised’ by the force of opinion. He added: “We promised to present the tower and rooftop designs to seek responses before we submit the final plan for consent, and so we’re delighted to reveal them now. We were encouraged by the generally positive response to July’s consultation and by calls from certain quarters to be bold in our ambition and create something remarkable on the city’s skyline. “We have kept faith with our central vision of creating a true world-class, mixed-use destination with a signature development of the highest quality including residential living, Grade A offices, a five-star hotel, exciting retail and leisure units and unique outdoor spaces.
“The confidence of investors and occupiers has been retained throughout this process and, subject to planning approval, we will be on site by spring/early summer 2018.”
Neville said he was anticipating ‘a lot of noise’ around the new design, but said he didn’t know what the verdict from the public would be.
He said: “I don’t know what to expect.”
We have kept faith with our central vision of creating a true world-class, mixed use destination Gary Neville
The new tower has the same number of storeys as the taller of the two originals, although it is two metres shorter.
It has been rotated to a different angle and is now largely glass with curved edges.
Mr Hodder said the tower would no longer be visible from St Peter’s Square, adding the new design has a ‘softer profile’ than the previous plans and would bring an ‘international style’ to Manchester.
The exhibition runs from 11am to 7pm on Cross Street.
A revised planning application is expected to be submitted in September.