A company involving United legends Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville is in negotiations with Manchester City Council regarding the joint delivery of a scheme of “regional importance” on a two acre plot currently occupied by Bootle Street police station (pictured), a Synagogue and the adjoining Sir Ralph Abercromby pub.
Jackson’s Row Developments (JRD), of which the pair are listed as directors, is led by property developer and Burnley FC director Brendan Flood.
The company owns an area of open land adjoining the proposed site but will need to meet a number of conditions before it will be allowed to take on the extended Bootle Street lease and begin redevelopment work.
A council spokesman claimed that the firm has already “either secured or is in final negotiations to secure” both the synagogue and the pub, which is currently owned by Enterprise Inns.
He continued; “The shareholders are committed to provide all funds required to complete all pre-development activities in order that works can be commenced on site as quickly as possible.
“As part of the pre-development phase, funding partners will be secured to implement the construction phase.”
Although the council has not confirmed how much it intends to spend in order to acquire Bootle Street Police Station, it did admit that any deal will mean its capital budget will need to be increased. Nevertheless, the report stressed a desire to “move quickly to prevent the area becoming blighted from the presence of a vacant building of a significant scale in a strategically important location.”
As yet, no plans for the future of the site have been released by either JRD or Manchester City Council. However, the council spokesman indicated that JRD had obtained a contractual agreement with a 4/5 star hotel brand which does not yet operate any properties within Manchester.
The report concludes; “The relocation of Greater Manchester Police from Bootle Street police station provides a major opportunity to provide a major new mixed use development, in a strategic location in the heart of the Civic Quarter.
“The development has significant potential to add to the growth of the Civic Quarter and the regional centre.
“There is also a need to ensure that GMP’s relocation does not cause a blight to this part of the city centre – it is proposed that the council enter into arrangements with the Police Commissioner for the purchase of Bootle Street Police Station and to enter into a land pooling arrangement with Jackson’s Row Development Company for the redevelopment of Bootle Street Police Station and adjoining landholdings.”
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