Planning application submitted for long-awaited Piccadilly Gardens transformation

A full planning application ahead of the proposed transformation of Piccadilly Gardens has been submitted.

The submission follows public consultation on the plans earlier this summer. Subject to planning permission being granted this autumn, bosses say work on the project will begin ‘as soon as possible’.

Key elements of the Piccadilly Gardens application include:

• Putting the ‘Gardens’ back in Piccadilly Gardens – more green space including lawn, trees, planting, seating and colourful horticultural displays.

• A new space for family-friendly events - removing the old, unreliable fountains and creating a new space to hold enjoyable events and activities throughout the year. A new, flexible structure - referred to as The Welcome Pavilion - will be built on part of the space to help support regular activity.  This will be the focus of a separate planning application.

• Better use of space -Removing the unsightly low concrete walls and raised planters along the edge of Piccadilly Gardens, close to the Queen Victoria statue, and improving the statue’s setting.

• Refreshing the existing children’s play area – creating a new, larger 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.

The plans will also support a safer space through improved sightlines, better lighting and enhanced CCTV. The planning application is available to view here.

Interim Council Leader Cllr Garry Bridges said: “The moment has arrived when we’re ready to submit our planning application to transform Piccadilly Gardens. It’s taken a lot of work to get to this significant point.

“Residents have told us loud and clear what they want from Piccadilly Gardens. They want the area to look better and feel safer and that’s exactly what we’re going to deliver.

“There has already been significant investment in the area – including extra police and council resources – with even more on the way.

“This application will see a much-improved space: Putting the Gardens back in Piccadilly Gardens, providing a better children’s play area and supporting a more inviting place all round.”

Once the physical works are completed, the Council says it aims to deliver a regular stream of bespoke family-friendly activity and seasonal events to enjoy.

The new scheme coincides with several other projects taking place in the immediate vicinity of the Gardens, including the major Rylands redevelopment (of the Grade II-listed former Debenhams building) which is creating a new office, retail and leisure destination, and the recently-approved plans to refurbish and improve One  Piccadilly  Gardens.

Further planned improvements to the area around Piccadilly Gardens in the coming years will include a multi-million-pound investment by Transport for Greater Manchester to create a new, modern transport interchange.

City of Manchester Chief Inspector Mike Tachauer said: “We welcome the next phase of the planning application for the new-look Piccadilly Gardens. Senior officers have been involved in consultations from the outset to ensure there is a strong policing input into these plans. Piccadilly Gardens is a space that everyone should feel safe and secure when travelling in and around the area. Our officers have ensured that elements pertaining to public safety have been one of the key focuses in the planning process including better lighting and more CCTV.

“We have had several experienced police officers who have strong experience around policing Piccadilly Gardens who have given an input to these plans, and there are a number of elements we have learnt from, for example, understanding how planters can be misused by those involved in criminality and how we can deter this from happening.

“There is also cross-organisational understanding that the safety of the Gardens is a multi-agency partnership that we all need to be involved in to ensure everyone is doing their bit to keep our communities safe.”

Image credit: Virtual Planit