The former footballer’s Relentless Developments announced its plans for a six-site, mixed-use neighbourhood project in Manchester city centre during the MIPIM trade show last month.

The scheme includes hospitality and leisure facilities, new public and cultural spaces as well as a luxury hotel, centred around Sheppard Robson’s reworked Kendal Milne building in Deansgate – currently home to House of Fraser – with the whole project branded the Kendals District.

Back in 2020, Sheppard Robson revealed a plan to retrofit the department store, which involved demolishing a multistorey car park housed in the adjacent Fraser Building and replacing it with a 12-storey office block. More than 45,000m² of workspace would have been created across the two buildings.

Despite receiving planning permission in 2021, the scheme, backed by site owner Investec, stalled due to office market instability and issues relating to the building’s listed status. It is understood that Relentless joined Investec as development manager last year.

Sheppard Robson confirmed to the AJ that it was still on board the job and was revisiting its earlier proposals. Details about the revised designs have not yet been released, but it has been confirmed that the car park remains part of the plot set for redevelopment.

Along with the Kendals Department store and next door car park, Relentless is leading on the development of three other sites: Alberton House, Cardinal House and Reedham House.

The masterplan for Relentless Development’s Kandals District in Manchester, credit: Relentless Developments

At MIPIM, Relentless chief executive officer Anthony Kilbride said that the Kendals building would be redeveloped in collaboration with investment company Investec and would receive £44 million of funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)’s Good Growth Fund.

Kilbride said: ‘Kendals is a complex heritage retrofit that has demanded real conviction, not just in the building itself, but in the wider vision for this part of the city.

‘As one of Manchester’s most recognisable landmarks, this high-impact site is perfectly positioned to anchor district-scale regeneration and act as a true gateway to a new neighbourhood.’

He said the Kendals retrofit would ‘set the tone’ for the rest of the district development, being a ‘thoughtfully designed, highly sustainable space that prioritises wellbeing and flexibility’.

The original plan for the Kendals building had included a contemporary rooftop extension and modified glazing to give office workers better views outside, while a central atrium would bring natural light in.

Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig said: ‘Kendals is a prime example of this approach – breathing new life into an iconic heritage building to not only ensure its long-term future, but to create a platform for a new city centre district to deliver growth at scale and with ambition.’

Neville’s Relentless Developments is coming off the delivery of the 43-storey St Michael’s tower scheme in Manchester, which was designed by Hodder + Partners and described as a ‘huge success’ by Relentless, despite sparking controversy from heritage groups.