Neville and KKR increase office space at £200m St Michael’s 

The much-anticipated Manchester mixed-use development will no longer feature a boutique hotel, as the joint venture opts instead to include 30,000 sq ft of additional workspace. 

The 29-bedroom boutique hotel was originally proposed to occupy the former police headquarters on Southmill Street. 

However, the challenges in delivering this element of the £200m St Michael’s project post-pandemic have prompted the developers, US investor KKR and Gary Neville’s Relentless, to change tack. 

A planning statement by consultant Zerum said: “The delivery of the boutique hotel presented greater challenges, whilst at the same time the office market in Manchester remains strong. It is therefore proposed to remove the boutique hotel element from the development and extend the office use into the former police station building.” 

Following the addition of 30,000 sq ft of workspace, St Michael’s now boasts 191,000 sq ft of offices in total, the majority of which is new-build space.

Further changes to the Jacksons Row project include a decrease in the number of car parking spaces from 103 to 54, and a 3,800 sq ft reduction in the amount of leisure space. 

CGI of the square that will front the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub. Credit: via RDPR

The rest of the project remains largely the same and comprises a 41-storey tower designed by Hodder + Partners. 

The tower contains 191 five-star hotel rooms and 181 apartments.  A 28,000 sq ft synagogue also forms part of the plans.

The main office building and the refurbishment of the police headquarters will be delivered following the demolition of the Sir Ralph Abercrombie pub kitchen. 

The construction of the tower and synagogue will come forward in phase three. 

Laing O’Rourke had been tipped to build the project but Bowmer + Kirkland is now understood to be lead contractor, according to planning documents. 

Substantial public space will also be created through the creation of Abercrombie Square and a 20,000 sq ft roof terrace in the heart of the city.  

The project was previously being brought forward by the St Michael’s Partnership, comprising Jackson’s Row Developments, Manchester City Council and Singaporean funder Rowsley.  

A joint venture between US investor KKR and Gary Neville’s Relentless is now delivering the scheme. 

KKR’s investment was made through its $2.2bn second dedicated European real estate fund, KKR Real Estate Partners Europe II.