THE CITY Council is teaming up with Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs to redevelop the area around Bootle Street police station.
The budding property moguls have also recently collaborated on the Hotel Football development at Old Trafford, set to open this December.
The synagogue, the pub and the old station are all likely to go as it is redeveloped into a 'new mixed-use development'.
Jacksons Row Development Company (JRDC), a company owned by Neville and Giggs, along with developer and Burnley FC director Brendan Flood, already owns the site or is just about to own the neighbouring United Reformed Synagogue in Jackson’s Row, the Sir Ralph Abercrombie Pub and an important bit of land in between.
Now the Council plans to buy the police station and lease the site back to JRDC so the company can put forward a detailed masterplan for the whole site which is expected to include bars, restaurants and a high-end hotel.
Giggs and Neville
Why is JRDC not simply buying the police station instead? Maybe because the city has inserted a clause saying that if they are not happy with the masterplan produced, they get the right to buy out JRDC’s interests and move forward with another partner.
Sir Howard Bernstein has not been in charge for fifteen years for nothing.
Here’s the detail from the report:
"If the scheme put forward by JRDC does not satisfy the conditions the Council has the option to acquire the JRDC interests to assemble the comprehensive site, and seek to procure an alternative development partner in the usual manner."
This is an important section of the city but the synagogue, the pub and the old station are all likely to go as it is redeveloped into a 'new mixed-use development of local and regional importance.'
"The site has the potential to extend the high quality environment that already characterises the city centre, introduce new residential, leisure and commercial facilities, enhance connectivity (including to Spinningfields) and maximise wider regeneration benefits.
"Its redevelopment needs to be brought forward in a way that complements existing developments in adjacent areas within the city centre, such as Spinningfields, First Street and those along the Corridor."
The former police station
The City Council has long had ambitions to bring a five star hotel to the heart of the city, InterContinental being top of the wish list, and this would be the perfect site close to the Manchester Central conference events.
That JRDC already has 'a contractual agreement with a major international hotel operation, for a major 4/5* brand that is not currently represented in the City' has obviously aided its cause.
It has also pledged that it has the money to fund all the pre-development reports and planning and will secure funding partners before work starts.
The price of the police station is not revealed in the report which is being considered by the Executive on Wednesday 3 September.
Neville and Giggs have also collaborated on Hotel Football at Old Trafford
