Manchester’s Ronaldo hotel delayed again
Construction of the long-awaited 151-bed Pestana Piccadilly could begin in late 2027, seven years after it was granted approval.
The 11-storey scheme is proposed for a site on the corner of Piccadilly and Newton Street. It would be operated under Pestana’s CR7 brand, backed by Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Feilden Clegg Bradley-designed hotel was approved in 2020 but has been impacted by a market downturn following the pandemic.
Two years ago, developer Southern Estates, a JV between Pestana and Eastern Estates, said it was committed to the project. Two years on, the partnership has reiterated its commitment while adding that the market has not yet improved enough to start the project.
As a result, Southern Estates is seeking permission from Manchester City Council to tweak the planning permission “to ensure the scheme remains deliverable in the context of unprecedented macro-economic conditions and delays associated with the complexity of the proposals,” according to a cover letter prepared by Deloitte.
If approved, the changes will mean Southern Estates has to meet certain deadlines to bring the scheme forward.
Date one is 1 July 2026, by which point a delivery partnership arrangement should be agreed. By 1 January 2027 Southern Estates should have received tender responses for the build contract and by 1 July 2027 a construction contract should be signed.
The developer has blamed “unexpected delays…largely associated with the impact of Covid-19″ that “disproportionately” impacted the hospitality industry, as one of the reasons for the hold up.
The project also proposes the “complex and costly” reuse of some heritage buildings, which has caused problems, the cover letter states.
The site includes 67-75 Piccadilly, part of which is grade-two listed, and 4-6 Newton Street. The most notable tenant on the plot is the Piccadilly Tavern pub at 71-75 Piccadilly’s ground floor.
The revealed scheme would see the retention of the grade-two listed 69-75 Piccadilly, and the construction of a 150-bedroom hotel, with 67 Piccadilly demolished.
Another building, 4-6 Newton Street, will be demolished under the plans, first revealed in June 2020. Both buildings have been vacant for some time.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more than 200 goals for club and country since the original planning application as approved.
Shame it’s delayed but good that’s it’s still on the cards. This proposal is gorgeous and would be a massive lift to the area.
By Cohn
Hope this goes ahead now as designed . I remember when the design was first mooted and loving it. Better than the usual mid level ‘couldn’t care less’ post modern tosh we usually get in Britain. Feilden clegg Bradley should do more.
By Anonymous
Nothing they can do about market conditions. Just hope it happens and built as designed as it make a massive improvement to Piccadilly and a prominent corner
By Tomo
On the question of delayed projects what’s happening to the London Road fire station?
By Anonymous
Seems a rather cautions approach as occupancy levels in most Manchester hotels have exceeded pre covid levels.
By Anonymous
This must happen. FCB are wonderful and this is a great design. It’s a mad mix of contemporary, polite references to the past and a good shake of a brutallist feel. Wonderful!
By Love it
Has there been a market decrease since 2020. Yes during the pandemic, but hasn’t it recovered before now?
By Drew
For the first time in his life Ronaldo should pass this to Gary Neville. Neville would get it built.
By Anonymous
Another company blaming COVID 5 years after the pandemic. There are no business-related after effects from COVID now but it’s become a crutch and the excuse on every Director’s comments on their filed accounts for 3-4 years now. It’s just a mask for mismanagement.
By Anonymous
Manchester occupancy is through the roof, this doesn’t make sense!!
By Messi is better
Unfortunately, the commenters on this post know little about the hospitality industry.
Yes – COVID has had a dramatic effect on this sector, with subsequent values down. Combined with build costs up, business rates up, finance costs up, staffing costs up – it’s an incredibly tough sector, reflected by how few new build hotels are now seen coming through (you will typically see those offering leases developed (Premier Inn’s) and not a lot else.)
And just in case everyone has missed it, residential and mixed-use schemes are only happening, as the Government, locally (e.g. GMCA) and nationally (e.g. Homes England) are subsidising it all through various means! There are very few able to operate without this support.
Tough times, but that’s the challenge that we love!
By Anon