Neville and St Michael’s Partnership architect part company

The award-winning architect behind Gary Neville’s controversial Manchester city centre skyscraper plans is no long working on the scheme.

London-based Make Architects, led by renown professional Ken Shuttleworth, has resigned from the £200m St Michael’s scheme, saying its involvement had “reached a natural conclusion”.

In a statement Shuttleworth said: “We’ve been totally committed to the evolution of the scheme and have continued to work on revised proposals, but we feel that the current direction does not align with our ambition for the site and it is right to step aside.

“St Michael’s is an important project for Manchester and we wish Gary Neville and his team every success in bringing it to fruition.”

The St Michael’s Partnership involving Neville, his former Manchester United team mate Ryan Giggs and Neville’s Jackson’s Row Developments, Rowsley Ltd, Beijing Construction and Engineering Group, and Manchester City Council, also released a statement confirming that Make is no longer the project architect.

It said it has appointed Manchester-based Hodder and Partners into the role.

The switch in architects follows news which broke at the international property conference MIPIM in Cannes in March that Neville was asking Manchester City Council to hold off making a decision on the controversial scheme.

This was in the wake of fierce criticism of the scheme from Government agency Historic England which objected to the plan which included 153 apartments at Jackson’s Row and the demolition of the historic Abercromby pub, the 1930s Bootle Street police station and a 1950s synagogue.

The St Michael’s statement read: “Stephen Hodder and his team were brought in three months ago to contribute design ideas.

“They are now focused on submitting revised proposals for a successful mixed-use development at St Michael’s.

“In light of the overall response to the first proposal, it was clear that a different design approach was required.

“We reflected whether the original solution met the overall objectives for the site and Stephen Hodder was brought in as part of that challenge process. This led to an extensive review of the approach.

“Stephen Hodder’s involvement led us to a different philosophy which we believe will command a greater level of support and create a fantastic new development and destination in the city.

“The partnership thanks Make and in particular, Stuart Fraser and his colleagues for their work and wishes the practice well in the future.”