Gary Neville has admitted he made a "huge mistake" in his £400million development in Manchester city centre.
Neville and fellow Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs unveiled a plan to transform Jackson's Row in the heart of Manchester into a development known as St Michael's in 2016. Neville's idea included a five-star hotel, apartments, offices and restaurants.
The plan was met with a backlash, as campaigners were concerned it would erase a part of Manchester's "precious heritage". Neville wanted to demolish the iconic Sir Ralph Abercromby pub, something he now admits was a "huge mistake."
Neville and his business partners revised their plan and work started around 18 months ago. The former England defender hopes the project, which he's described as a "bumpy ride", will create 2,200 jobs and an extra 700 jobs in construction.
Neville discussed the plan during an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live's Wake Up To Money. He said: "It's been challenging all the way through for different reasons."
The plan was approved in 2018. Neville has taken "responsibility" for the planning issues surrounding the project and insists "I recognise the mistake that I made". Yet he believes it will bring "huge economic prosperity" and provide affordable accommodation.
Neville is "proud of this project" but has admitted his regret at trying to demolish the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub. He said: "I don't know why or how I was thinking that at the time.
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"I love old buildings, I have always renovated old buildings, the idea that we looked at that pub and the front of Bootle Street police station and thought we should knock it down, that was a huge mistake... I have openly admitted that we got it wrong but we have been corrected and we have owned up to our mistakes and we are now on site."
The Sir Ralph Abercromby pub has stood in Manchester since the 18th century and is thought to have played a role in the BBC drama, Life on Mars. The pub in the cult TV show is said to be designed on the boozer Neville initially wanted to bulldoze.
Neville is best known today for his punditry work for Sky Sports, but he's also a successful businessperson. He's involved in several property developments and is the co-owner of League Two side Salford City, achieving four promotions in nine years.
Neville will join Dragons' Den as a guest Dragon for this year's series. He will join regulars Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett. Neville's role means he will consider investing in a number of business ventures.
Neville said: "I am excited to join the Dragons, and to meet the entrepreneurs brave enough to face us in the Den. I hope my personal journey shows that you can take the experiences you've had in one part of your career and use them to do something entirely different and make it a success.
"Business is all about managing people and managing yourself and I'm looking forward to sharing my experience to help the entrepreneurs we'll meet in the Den reach their potential."
