Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs' plan to build two skyscrapers as part of a multi-million pound development in Manchester has met with opposition from a government conservation body.
Neville and Giggs' development would include a 200-bed hotel, new offices and 153 new apartments.
Neville said that it would "breathe new life into the area" in a presentation in Manchester Town Hall, forecasting it would create 1,300 jobs, according to AFP.
However, Historic England (HE), the public body responsible for the country's historic environment, expressed "great concern" over the plans.
The HE statement read: "We acknowledge, and are excited by, the potential of the site, but feel that there are alternative ways to provide the benefits of the scheme which would not harm the special heritage of Manchester."
The plans involve the controversial demolition of the 19th-century Sir Ralph Abercromby pub, with thousands signing a petition to register their opposition.
Neville told the Manchester Evening News: "Obviously the Abercromby has gained a lot of publicity. The site will be cleared and the pub will be removed. We've been in dialogue with the landlord over the last six to eight months.
"We've spoken to him about his job about the job of his staff with respect to working with him to protect those during and post-construction because it's important to us.
"This is Manchester and the idea of taking a fellow person's job is not something that appeals to me."
He added that the streets around the pub "are disused, they're derelict, they're not particularly attractive."
The Manchester Reform Synagogue would also be demolished and replaced with a new synagogue.