£220m scheme to get underway in 2019

The start of construction on the £220m St Michael’s mixed-use development in Manchester city centre, which is being brought forward by a consortium including Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, has been scheduled for March 2019.Speaking at MIPIM, Neville said that work will not now start towards the end of this year, as had originally been planned, but instead will commence in 12 months’ time.The update comes after the scheme took a step forward last week, being backed by councillors.It features 148,000 sq ft of grade A office space, 30,000 sq ft of food and drink space, 189 luxury apartments, a 216-bed five-star international hotel with a gym, spa and pool, a 30-bed boutique hotel, a synagogue designed by Fairhursts, a public square as large as Lincoln Square outside the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub, and a rooftop garden open to the public through a separate entrance from the street.Housing secretary Sajid Javid is now in a period of 21 days to decide whether a call in is appropriate. He can also apply for an extension which could delay his decision by up to two months.Council leader Sir Richard Leese also confirmed that profits for the authority from the scheme will be reinvested into affordable housing in the city.Neville confirmed that further work will start to design more of the development when the planning permission is approved, and that the marketing will start soon afterwards.The construction period is expected to take three-and-a-half-years, architect Stephen Hodder confirmed, with a handover of the commercial space in between two-and-a-half to three years.Talks are underway with an operator for the five-star hotel with an announcement expected after a decision from the secretary of state.Hodder added that every level of the commercial space will have outdoor areas available.