Gary Neville Admits Mistakes in £400 Million Manchester Development
Former Manchester United player, Gary Neville, has admitted to making “huge mistakes” in the planning of his £400 million development project in Manchester. Neville, who is set to appear as a guest star on the next series of Dragons’ Den, has faced criticism for his St Michael’s scheme in Manchester’s city centre.
The St Michael’s scheme, which began 18 months ago, includes two towers with a five-star hotel, luxury flats, offices, and a rooftop restaurant. However, the initial plan received backlash from locals due to its proposal to demolish the historic Sir Ralph Abercromby pub and part of a historic police station.
During an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Wake Up To Money, Neville addressed the criticisms and acknowledged the regrettable details in his original strategy. He stated, “I love old buildings, I have always renovated old buildings, the idea that we looked at that pub and the front of Bootle Street police station and thought we should knock it down, that was a huge mistake.”
Neville further admitted that he had made mistakes and that he had learned from them. He mentioned his experiences after leaving Manchester United and feeling unbreakable, which led him to take on projects without the necessary capabilities. He specifically mentioned his time as the manager of Valencia, where he was sacked after four months.
Reflecting on the St Michael’s project, Neville emphasized the importance of communication and bringing people along on the journey. He stated, “The St Michael’s project showed me that you can have a good idea, but if you don’t bring people along with you on the journey and don’t communicate with them, you’re not going to succeed.”
Despite the criticism, Neville’s project aims to create 2,200 jobs once completed. However, it has been criticized for its lack of affordable housing. Neville addressed this concern by stating that Manchester needs different types of properties and that the development will make a significant payment to the council to contribute to more affordable housing in the city.
Neville also responded to the criticism of building a five-star hotel, stating, “It seems to me that only Conservative voters are able to talk about excellence, high-quality, and international world-class developments.” He emphasized the need for a balance between high-quality developments and affordable housing.
In conclusion, Gary Neville has acknowledged the mistakes made in his £400 million Manchester development project. He has learned from these mistakes and emphasized the importance of communication and bringing people along on the journey. Despite criticism, Neville remains committed to creating jobs and contributing to the city’s affordable housing needs.