Approved by the council, the £200m Bootle Street scheme, which includes a five-star hotel and apartments within a 39-storey skyscraper as well as grade-A offices, is now in the hands of secretary of state Sajid Javid, who will make the final call.

Neville, supported by Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, travelled to the Mipim property conference in Cannes to promote St Michael’s and respond to criticisms of the ‘market-shifting’ development.