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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Neville and Giggs let hotel squatters stay for winter | Neville and Giggs let hotel squatters stay for winter |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| About 30 homeless people who have set up camp in an empty building owned by two former Manchester United players have been told they can stay for winter. | |
| Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs are renovating the former Stock Exchange building in Manchester city centre into a luxury hotel. | |
| Wesley Hall, a human rights activist, said he spoke to Neville on the phone and was told they could stay until February when building work will start. | Wesley Hall, a human rights activist, said he spoke to Neville on the phone and was told they could stay until February when building work will start. |
| The group of squatters was evicted from an empty office block last week. | |
| Mr Hall said while speaking to a developer working on the site on Friday he was given the phone to speak directly to Gary Neville. | |
| 'Beautiful building' | |
| "He spoke to me he said, 'Look, I've not got a problem with you staying here, look after the building and respect the actual building," he said. | |
| He added that giving the homeless somewhere to stay is "a lifeline". | |
| "These people aren't getting a nourishing meal, their immune systems are low and they are dying. | "These people aren't getting a nourishing meal, their immune systems are low and they are dying. |
| "All it needs is someone to put a roof over their head and give them a bit of support," he said. | |
| Wesley Dove, who has been homeless for the last 12 months and living in a tent, said: "It's a beautiful building, now we know we can stay we can start doing work. It is a bit of security for winter." | |
| Planning permission to turn the Stock Exchange on Norfolk Street into a 35-bedroom luxury hotel was granted earlier this year, with former United team-mates Neville and Giggs funding the project. | Planning permission to turn the Stock Exchange on Norfolk Street into a 35-bedroom luxury hotel was granted earlier this year, with former United team-mates Neville and Giggs funding the project. |
| The Grade II-listed building, which they bought for £1.5m, will house a gym, spa, roof terrace for members and a ground-floor restaurant, according to architects AEW. | The Grade II-listed building, which they bought for £1.5m, will house a gym, spa, roof terrace for members and a ground-floor restaurant, according to architects AEW. |