The area is a strange no man’s land in the heart of a city that’s booming; a run-down zone between the densely populated Deansgate and Albert Square.

A transformation of the Jackson’s Row area has been on the cards for more than a decade, but progress has been slow. A £200m mixed-use development fronted by former Manchester United footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs has proved controversial, attracting criticism from heritage groups and the public alike.

One of the final hurdles was a judicial review proposed by the Manchester Civic Society that questioned the legality of the scheme’s planning. It was thrown out in September, clearing the way for St Michael’s Partnership – comprising Giggs, Neville, their investors, developer Brendan Flood and Manchester City Council – to proceed at last.