Ricky Hatton invests in Leicester development
Former world championship boxer Ricky Hatton has emerged as a key investor in a £30m office, residential and retail development in the heart of Leicester.
Through his property investment company, Ricky Hatton Property Investment, the Manchester-based multiple title-winner has taken a significant stake in the 115,000 sq ft New Walk development on the former Leicester City Council site being developed by Leicester property company Sowden Group.
The development, being built by contractors Sisk, includes 50,000 sq ft of Grade A office space to be occupied by Enderby-based wealth management and employee benefit business Mattioli Woods. The offices will form its new headquarters and bring more than 500 jobs to the site. Also in the development are 54 high-end apartments and 10,000 sq ft of retail space.
Ricky Hatton said he got to know Sowden Group owner and managing director Roy Coley through professional associations, and he was delighted to be investing in such an important Leicester city centre project.
“Obviously my boxing career has enabled me and my advisers to become involved in other projects since retirement, and like most successful sportsmen there is no shortage of fly-by-nights looking to relieve the company of the money I earned in the ring.
“That’s why it’s good to know someone like Roy who is a man who knows property and building much the same as I know boxing and we have similar backgrounds. I feel we can work in complete confidence and in Mike Ball at MacIntyre Hudson we both have the reassurance that we are well supported by the same professional advisers,” he said.
Hatton, who was awarded the MBE in 2007, has held world championship titles in light welterweight and welterweight divisions. Before retiring from the ring in 2012 he won 45 of his 48 professional fights, 32 of them by a knockout. He was named Fighter of the Year in 2005.
