Manchester skyscraper scheme backed by Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville criticised

A multimillion-pound development in Manchester city centre - backed by former footballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville - will "damage the city's historic core", a heritage agency has warned.

Historic England said the St Michael's scheme, which includes two skyscrapers, will dwarf some of the best buildings in the country and require the demolition of an important pub.

The former Manchester United (NYSE: MANU - news) stars said the project would deliver "the biggest statement in architecture" the city has seen in modern times and promised it would create 1,000 jobs.

But Historic England, a Government-backed organisation, said the city "deserves better" and their application "shows how aggressively the proposed buildings would jar against the grand civic buildings which define this part of Manchester".

The 700,000sq ft development includes a 200-bed five-star hotel, 153 apartments, 135,000sq ft of Grade A offices and a synagogue.

The site will also include 30,000sq ft of retail and leisure space.

Historic England said the design, height and colour of the development on Jackson's Row will dominate the Deansgate and Peter Street conservation area and "dwarf the nationally important" Central Library and "Grade I listed Town Hall".

An online petition to save the Abercromby pub, said to be the inspiration for the pub in the BBC show Life On Mars, has been signed by more than 4,500 people.

Catherine Dewar, Historic England's planning director for the North West, said the agency was "deeply concerned" about the project.

"It would have an impact on people's appreciation and experience of the stunning town hall and library but it would also erase different layers of this area's history, irreparably damaging the special character of the surrounding conservation area," she said.

"A dynamic city like ours needs to fully embrace development but this scheme is not good enough to justify the damage it would cause to the streets around the site and to the setting of the city's most important buildings and spaces.

"It threatens Manchester with the loss of historic places that have soul and tell important stories about our city's past."

The development was designed by Make Architects, which has delivered some of the most prominent buildings in the country.

Speaking at Manchester Town Hall in July, Neville said he wanted the site to become the new landmark in the city.

The 41-year-old, who is director of Jackson's Row developments, said: "Our vision is to deliver the biggest statement in architecture and development that Manchester has seen in modern times."