THE Council Executive committee will today (Weds 9 Sept) consider plans for a new £200m mixed-use city centre 'urban quarter' put forward by the Jackson's Row Development Partnership (JRDC) - a consortium part-owned by former United stars turned property gurus Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.
The future of the historic Sir Ralph Abercromby pub - where victims of the Peterloo Massacre were taken in 1819 - remains unclear
On 27 August Neville and Giggs, alongside property investor and Burnley FC co-owner Brendan Flood, secured funding from Far East investors - Singaporean firm Rowsley Ltd and Beijing Construction & Engineering Group (who entered the £800m Airport City project in 2013) - to build the major scheme on the site of the Bootle Street Police Station.
The two-acre site, bounded by Jackson's Row to the north, Bootle Street to the south and Southmill Street to the east, lies within Manchester's so-called 'Civic Quarter' and includes the old police HQ, Manchester Reform Synagogue, the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub and car parking space.
The Council purchased the station in March 2015 for a reported sum of £2m and has entered into a Conditional Agreement for Lease with JRDC.
The proposed JRDC development, known as 'St Michael's', includes: a 'major five-star international hotel'; hi-spec apartments with potential roof gardens; grade A office space; retail and leisure facilities; bar and restaurant space; 'active' public realm; and underground parking.
![The former police HQ on Southmill Street](https://assets.confidentials.com/uploads/imported/Assets/1/159914744.jpg)
Provisions have been made for the Manchester Reform Synagogue, with plans to include a 'new state of the art building' within the scheme maintaining 'original fittings' and its existing front door access on Jacksons Row.
However, the future of the historic Sir Ralph Abercromby pub on Bootle Street - where victims of the Peterloo Massacre were taken in 1819 - remains unclear. The report reads: 'Any decision on these buildings will be made in the light of a full assessment of the approach adopted by a future development proposal, in the context of the relevant planning policies and Historic England guidance.'
The report adds that the St Michael's area currently suffers from 'little footfall' and that Jackson's Row, Bootle Street and Southmill Street are subsequently 'city backstreets with limited use'. The JRDC scheme could replace the 'inactive streets' with an 'inspiring urban environment', according to the report.
The St Michael's scheme will be Rowsley's first investment in Europe, paying £40m for a 75% stake in St Michael Investments Pte. BCEG will take a 21% stake with both Neville and Giggs owning 2% each.
Public consultation is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
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(main image credit: geography.org)