New images have emerged of the proposed designs for the £150m St Michael’s development in Manchester city centre, where all the buildings on the 1.8-acre site are expected to be controversially cleared to make way for a 700,000 sq ft scheme designed by Make Architects.

See before and after gallery below

The images emerged ahead of a press conference scheduled for Thursday when footballers-turned-developers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs are due to speak alongside council leader Sir Richard Leese and chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein to unveil the more detailed plans.

A change.org petition to save the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub at the centre of the development site attracted 2,500 petitions.

A mixed-use scheme is proposed on the plot between Jackson’s Row, Bootle Street and Southmill Street, brought forward by a development company owned by Neville, Giggs, developer Brendan Flood and Manchester City Council.

The buildings currently on the site include the former Bootle Street police station, which has a Portland stone façade fronting Southmill Street, the United Reform Synagogue on Jacksons Row, and the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub on Bootle Street.

A replacement synagogue will be included within the redevelopment, however all the other structures are expected to be pulled down. The demolition plans, and in particular the loss of the successful Abercromby pub, have proven unpopular with members of the public and business community who feel it reflects Manchester’s lack of regard for heritage assets and cultural tradition.

While the development team have remained tight-lipped about the future of the properties on the site, indicative images show the current buildings replaced by two large blocks, sitting either side of a public realm route cutting through St Michael’s from Bootle Street to the corner of Albert Square. Part of the public realm would be built on the roof of the new synagogue and accessed by steps.

Manchester City Council approved a regeneration framework for St Michael’s in September 2015, which set the pathway to develop 130 flats, a 200-bedroom hotel, offices and public space.

St Michael’s is funded by a £150m consortium deal with Singaporean-based Rowsley and Beijing Construction Engineering Group.

Zerum is the development advisor.

Click any image below to launch gallery