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Man United stars' hotel squatters vow to open building to the public Man United stars' hotel squatters vow to open building to the public
(34 minutes later)
A group of homeless people and activists who have taken over the old stock exchange building in central Manchester with the blessing of its owners, the former footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, have pledged to open it to the public. A group of homeless people and activists who have taken over the old stock exchange building in central Manchester – with the blessing of its owners, the former footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs – have pledged to open it to the public.
Speaking outside the building on Monday morning, Wesley Hall from Manchester Angels said the group of squatters and housing activists would open the doors as soon as they had cleaned the place up and wanted to use it to change perceptions about homelessness.Speaking outside the building on Monday morning, Wesley Hall from Manchester Angels said the group of squatters and housing activists would open the doors as soon as they had cleaned the place up and wanted to use it to change perceptions about homelessness.
Related: Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville's kind gesture to squatters lauded on TwitterRelated: Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville's kind gesture to squatters lauded on Twitter
“We want people to come in and have a look. In the past, people have looked at squats and said ‘cheeky little buggers, they’re up to no good’. This is totally different. This isn’t a dosshouse, this isn’t a squat, this isn’t a party. This is a hub where we are going to change lives,” he said.“We want people to come in and have a look. In the past, people have looked at squats and said ‘cheeky little buggers, they’re up to no good’. This is totally different. This isn’t a dosshouse, this isn’t a squat, this isn’t a party. This is a hub where we are going to change lives,” he said.
About 30 homeless people, along with 20 activists, have been given permission to stay until February in the historic stock exchange, a Grade II-listed block on Norfolk Street near the Arndale centre, which was bought by former Manchester United players Neville and Giggs’ property company for £1.5m in 2013.About 30 homeless people, along with 20 activists, have been given permission to stay until February in the historic stock exchange, a Grade II-listed block on Norfolk Street near the Arndale centre, which was bought by former Manchester United players Neville and Giggs’ property company for £1.5m in 2013.
The group plans to use the building as a homelessness hub, inviting NHS and mental health workers as well as members of the public, to change perceptions of homeless people. They were evicted from an office block on Charlotte Street, in nearby Chinatown, last week. The group plans to use the building as a homelessness hub, inviting NHS and mental health workers as well as members of the public, in an effort to change perceptions of homeless people. They were evicted from an office block on Charlotte Street in nearby Chinatown, last week.
Last November, Neville and Giggs were given planning permission to convert the building into a 35-room boutique hotel with bars, a restaurant, function space, a business centre and a gym.Last November, Neville and Giggs were given planning permission to convert the building into a 35-room boutique hotel with bars, a restaurant, function space, a business centre and a gym.
Over the weekend, Neville astonished activists who had occupied the site by saying he was happy for them to stay until February.Over the weekend, Neville astonished activists who had occupied the site by saying he was happy for them to stay until February.
Related: Man United stars Neville and Giggs tell hotel squatters: stay for winterRelated: Man United stars Neville and Giggs tell hotel squatters: stay for winter
Hall said Neville was offering homeless people the sort of trust they never normally enjoy: “They’ve now got some form of stability. They’ve never had trust, they’ve never had stability, they’ve never had anyone represent them or speak out for them. They’ve been individuals, isolated in doorways. Now they’re like a family.”Hall said Neville was offering homeless people the sort of trust they never normally enjoy: “They’ve now got some form of stability. They’ve never had trust, they’ve never had stability, they’ve never had anyone represent them or speak out for them. They’ve been individuals, isolated in doorways. Now they’re like a family.”
He added: “We can actually plan for the next few months, we can actually deliver some serious programmes, we can deliver some workshops.He added: “We can actually plan for the next few months, we can actually deliver some serious programmes, we can deliver some workshops.
“We have never had a case where the owner has said ‘We are not going to pursue an IPO (interim possession order), we are actually just going to let you stay there’, it’s beyond belief.” “We have never had a case where the owner has said: ‘We are not going to pursue an IPO (interim possession order), we are actually just going to let you stay there’ – it’s beyond belief.”
He said Adam Smith, founder of the Real Junk Food Project, which rescues unwanted food and turns it into meals for those in need, had offered to operate on the site, which Hall and colleagues have dubbed the Sock Exchange. A “household name chef” had also offered to help put on a Christmas lunch, he added. He said Adam Smith, founder of the Real Junk Food Project, which rescues unwanted food and turns it into meals for those in need, offered to operate on the site, which Hall and colleagues have dubbed the Sock Exchange. A “household-name chef” also offered to help put on a Christmas lunch, he added.
Hall insisted Manchester Angels would protect the architecture and return the building to the footballers in pristine condition: “What I need to project to other potential squatters is that you can legally occupy these buildings but respect them. If you’re going to go into a Grade II-listed building, protect the architecture. These are beautiful places.”Hall insisted Manchester Angels would protect the architecture and return the building to the footballers in pristine condition: “What I need to project to other potential squatters is that you can legally occupy these buildings but respect them. If you’re going to go into a Grade II-listed building, protect the architecture. These are beautiful places.”
Hall took the call from Neville and said he cried with gratitude. Despite being a hardened Burnley supporter, he said he was now the ex-Manchester United right-back’s biggest fan. Hall took the call from Neville and said he cried with gratitude. Despite being a hardened Burnley supporter, he said he was now the former right-back’s biggest fan.
“It’s crazy because my brother, he’s a Man United fan, and I had to spend 10 years of my life growing up in a Man United bedroom because Burnley didn’t do wallpaper, so I grew up hating United, now I love the guy,” said Hall. “It’s crazy because my brother, he’s a Man United fan, and I had to spend 10 years of my life growing up in a Man United bedroom because Burnley didn’t do wallpaper, so I grew up hating United – now I love the guy,” said Hall.
Wesley Dove, one of the homeless people who moved into the building on Sunday, said he had not spoken to Neville but wanted to send the following message: “I’m a City fan, but thank you very much.”Wesley Dove, one of the homeless people who moved into the building on Sunday, said he had not spoken to Neville but wanted to send the following message: “I’m a City fan, but thank you very much.”
Dove, who has been homeless for a year after a relationship breakdown, said there was still plenty of room inside the stock exchange.Dove, who has been homeless for a year after a relationship breakdown, said there was still plenty of room inside the stock exchange.
“It’s massive inside. There’s plenty of room for more homeless people. It’s just great to have security for the lads now, to know they have a place over the winter, they’ll be safe indoors,” he said.“It’s massive inside. There’s plenty of room for more homeless people. It’s just great to have security for the lads now, to know they have a place over the winter, they’ll be safe indoors,” he said.
Dove was one of a number of homeless people threatened with jail last month after protesting against Manchester city council’s homelessness policies, during which the council accused him of breaking an injunction that prevents anyone from camping in the city. Dove was one of a number of homeless people threatened with jail last month after protesting against Manchester city council’s homelessness policies, during which the local authority accused him of breaking an injunction that prevents anyone from camping in the city.
A judge threw out the case, saying the council’s argument was “fundamentally defective”.A judge threw out the case, saying the council’s argument was “fundamentally defective”.
Dove said Neville’s kindness had brought him some respite: “I don’t have to stress now about whether I’m going to be in a tent, whether I’m going to get put in jail.”Dove said Neville’s kindness had brought him some respite: “I don’t have to stress now about whether I’m going to be in a tent, whether I’m going to get put in jail.”