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.