Developers reignite plans for Cristiano Ronaldo-backed Manchester hotel

Plans to build a Manchester hotel under the brand backed by footballer Cristiano Ronaldo have been reignited by developers.

Consent was granted in December 2020 to build an 11-storey, 151-bedroom hotel in the city centre.

This was set to operate under Portuguese hotel group Pestana's CR7 brand, which is backed by Ronaldo and takes its name from the footballers' initials and shirt number.

The property was due to be built on the corner of Piccadilly and Newton Street in Manchester and would see the redevelopment of several existing buildings.

It was originally expected to open this year, but development has stalled, and the planning permission is approaching the three-year deadline after which it would expire.

Southern Green, a joint venture between site owner Eastern Green and Pestana, has applied to discharge several conditions attached to the 2020 plans to move forward with the scheme.

A letter submitted by planning consultants Deloitte to Manchester City Council said Southern Green remained "fully committed" to delivering the hotel.

"Since planning permission and listed building consent were granted in 2020; however, a number of well documented and unforeseen macroeconomic challenges have resulted in some delays in bringing forward this project," the letter read.

"Progress is nonetheless being made, and with a preferred contractor having been identified following a tender process and the design being progressed to commence RIBA Stage four and the project team working on the next steps to facilitate a start in site."

The CR7 brand is aimed at millennial travellers and operates five hotels in Lisbon, New York, Marrakech, Madeira, and Madrid.

A Paris hotel was announced in 2021 but has yet to open.

Image: Via planning documents. Feilden Clegg Bradley designed the hotel.