New images of proposed Piccadilly Gardens transformation revealed

A pre-planning consultation on plans to transform Piccadilly Gardens has launched.

Initial plans were announced in autumn last year, and included a wide range of improvements to enhance both the appearance and people’s experience of the prominent city centre area.

Earlier this year, Manchester Council shared the news that lead contractor Galliford Try will work with landscape architect and lead designer Planit, and civil, structural and highways engineers Civic to turn the vision into reality.

According to the council, the work includes:

• Putting the ‘Gardens’ back in Piccadilly Gardens – more trees, planting and floral displays.      

• A new space for family-friendly events - removing the old, unreliable fountains and using the new space created to hold enjoyable events and activities throughout the year. A new, flexible structure will be built on part of the space to help support events.      

• Better use of space -Ripping out the unsightly low concrete walls and raised planters along the edge of Piccadilly Gardens, close to the Queen Victoria statue.    

• Refreshing the existing children’s play area – transforming the space created by the removal of the wall and raised planters and creating a new playground for younger children. This will be of the same high quality as recently-created new play areas such as those at Mayfield Park and Ancoats Green but designed specifically to suit Piccadilly Gardens.      

Improvements to the look and feel of the space are being complemented by a range of other multi-agency initiatives. These include a strengthened police presence through GMP’s dedicated neighbourhood policing team, set up to tackle issues and concerns in Piccadilly Gardens, and imminent improvements to CCTV.

Once the work is completed, the Council aims to ensure a regular stream of year-round family-friendly events, similar to last summer’s MCR Live 25 celebration, which coincided with Oasis’ comeback gigs at Heaton Park.

Beyond this immediate plan, the Council says it has been working with partners on next steps for Piccadilly Gardens and the wider area in the coming years, including a multi-million-pound investment by Transport for Greater Manchester to create a new, modern transport interchange.

The sensitive restoration of the nearby 1930s Rylands Building on the corner of Market Street, High Street and Tib Street, will also complement – and be complemented by – the transformation of Piccadilly Gardens. The elegant art deco building, which previously housed Debenhams, will accommodate new office, retail and leisure space and help connect Piccadilly with the Northern Quarter.

Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “We’re getting on with sorting out Piccadilly Gardens. We all want to see a space which Mancunians can be proud of – a welcoming and attractive environment which people want to spend time in.

“So as well other initiatives which are delivering more police and more CCTV, we’re bringing forward this scheme to transform the public space. That means investment in more flowers, more greenery, a new welcome pavilion, a new and bigger playground and an altogether more inviting Piccadilly Gardens. A bright new chapter is just around the corner.”

The consultation period will run until Wed 15 July, with a view to submitting a planning application this summer. More information about the proect can be found here.

The public will also be able to view the proposals, talk to the team involved and provide feedback during three half-day drop-in sessions at Manchester Art Gallery on Tue 23 Jun (1pm – 5pm), Fri 26 Jun (10am – 2pm) and Sat 27 Jun (11am – 3pm.) Engagement sessions around the plans for an enlarged play area will also be held in early years settings and schools.