Gary Neville 'lets homeless group stay in hotel building'

Updated

Former Manchester United footballer Gary Neville has reportedly offered to let a group of homeless people stay in the building he plans to turn into a boutique hotel for the winter months.

A group under the name of Manchester Angels had been occupying the Stock Exchange on Norfolk Street in the city since Saturday, and have now said the ex-England full-back has given them permission to stay.

A post on the Manchester Angels Facebook page reads: "I'm crying ... Just got off the phone to Gary Neville ... He's letting us stay for a few months over the winter period and he's gonna help us with intervention. I'm shaking here. ?#?TheGraftPaysOff?."

The group's leader Wesley Hall said to the Manchester Evening News: "What a great guy Gary Neville is. We've been in negotiations with him and things are looking good.

"He said the main building work isn't taking place until February, so we'll be okay to stay until then."

Planning permission to turn the Stock Exchange into a 35-bedroom luxury hotel was granted earlier this year, with former United team-mates Neville and Ryan Giggs the funders behind the project.

The grade two-listed building will house a gym, spa, roof terrace for members, and a ground floor restaurant, according to architects AEW.

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