Hill Dickinson confirmed as anchor tenant in landmark £400m St Michael’s scheme in Manchester

•    The firm will move its Manchester operation to No.1 St Michael’s in 2025
•    It will occupy 18,192 sq ft on the top floor of the nine-storey phase one development
•    The scheme represents best-in-class office space developed with the aim of achieving net zero carbon in construction and operation and targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating

A £ multi-million pound property development in Manchester’s city centre has been launched on Wednesday 5 July 2023 with law firm Hill Dickinson signed as an anchor tenant.

Hill Dickinson will move its entire Manchester office operation into phase one of St Michael’s, a landmark mixed-use scheme that is set to transform an underused area of the city into a world-class destination for work and leisure.

The £400 million two-phase development is being brought to market by property developer and football pundit Gary Neville’s company, Relentless Developments, in collaboration with stakeholders KKR, Salboy and Manchester City Council. Phase one is scheduled for completion late 2024.

The scheme represents best-in-class office space in the city, developed with the aim of achieving net zero carbon in construction and operation and targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating.

Commenting on the firm’s decision to relocate to No.1 St Michael’s, Hill Dickinson operations director Keith Feeny said: 

“We are delighted to be among the first commercial tenants to sign up to phase one of this remarkable new development. Our decision to invest in St Michael’s represents our commitment to the continued growth of Hill Dickinson, our commitment to the wider cultural investment in Manchester as a city and a real desire to improve the sustainability of our operations. We believe this project will help us deliver on all three.”

Gary Neville, Director at Relentless Developments, added:  

“This is an extraordinary scheme that has been no less than 15 years in the making and will become the most sustainable commercial space in the city. 

“We’ve worked so hard to create a development that is distinctive in both its imaginative design and heritage as well as its location connecting the city’s business district with the historic civic quarter. Signing a deal with Hill Dickinson as one of the world’s most reputable law firms and setting a new headline rent as we launch is testament to that. 

No.1 St Michael’s (phase one) will incorporate the former Manchester City Police headquarters with restaurant brand Chatto Matte occupying the rooftop terrace. 

No.2 St Michael’s (phase two), which is due to commence construction in a matter of weeks, will comprise a separate 41-storey tower housing a 5-star hotel, 217 luxury apartments and an additional 75,000 sq ft of office space. 

The scheme is due for completion in its entirety in 2027.