Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly halted plans for the construction of a £27 million luxury hotel in Manchester after the expiration of planning permission. The superstar athlete had received approval in December 2020 for an exclusive CR7 151-room hotel to be built in the city. However, the Grade II-listed building designated for the hotel remains in a state of disrepair, and the three-year planning permission expired on December 16.
The proposed hotel, part of Ronaldo’s CR7 hotels partnership with Pestana, was anticipated to open this year, providing employment for over 900 people and contributing £56 million to the local economy. The property, which has been derelict for the past two decades, is currently in ruins, as revealed in council photos from the planning application.
The halt in the project is attributed to a variety of factors, including challenges with funding and unforeseen macroeconomic challenges. The project is a joint venture between Pestana and developers Eastern Green, named Southern Green Properties. The developers, in a letter to the council in September, expressed commitment to delivering the permitted scheme and the restoration of the Grade II-listed heritage asset.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s public image has faced scrutiny, particularly after an interview where he criticized his former club, Manchester United, and eventually secured a move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The Manchester hotel project has also faced controversies, including issues with billboards that led to the council banning further advertisements due to concerns about the lack of progress on the construction.
Despite the setbacks, Ronaldo’s CR7 brand already has hotels in various locations, including New York’s Times Square, Madeira, Lisbon, Portugal, and Madrid, Spain. The Manchester site was planned to feature a four-star hotel with 151 rooms, a roof terrace, gymnasium, and two bars in the Northern Quarter. The future of the project remains uncertain, with the council expressing frustration over the lack of progress and the expiration of planning permission. The Sun reached out to representatives for Ronaldo for comment.
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