Manchester City Council says a design team has been appointed as part of plans to develop Piccadilly Gardens into a ‘world-class space’.
A team led by LDA Design was selected from a four-candidate shortlist in an international design competition based on initial concept designs.
The team will now be tasked with creating a detailed design for the area to enable a full planning application to be submitted next year.
Before any plans are submitted, these designs will be made public with locals to be consulted on their views about them.
The competition panel found that ‘LDA Design’s submission embraced and met the design brief and praised elements including improved and updated children’s play facilities and improved links to London Road.’
The 10-acre site covered by the competition also includes Mosley Street, Parker Street, the section of Portland Street which runs alongside Piccadilly Gardens and the section of Piccadilly which borders the Gardens.
According to the council, the design brief envisages that Piccadilly will be a special place with a strong sense of identity, welcoming and uniquely Mancunian — ‘allowing for the flexible usage: A place for all, incorporating space where children can play, and one that is fully accessible.’
The brief calls for planting to encourage biodiversity and improve air quality in line with wider environmental goals, while recognising that this needs to be carefully designed to support a flexible space which tens of thousands of people walk through every day.
Ensuring the area is safe and well-lit with clear sightlines is also a key point in the brief, which retains the existing listed monuments and statues, tramlines and infrastructure as well as the existing pavilion structure.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Wed 2 Aug 2023
