Plans are in progress to greatly enhance Piccadilly Gardens’ appearance and create a more inviting, social environment.
Manchester City Council is collaborating with LDA Design on early steps to make Piccadilly Gardens more garden-like and welcoming. This follows feedback from the public, who expressed a desire to see this important city space become greener. The set of measures includes planting more trees, colourful borders with new plants to boost biodiversity, and improved climate and flood resilience through new raingardens.
New images reveal significant replanting in the Gardens, adding colour all year round. The dry fountains at the centre will be decommissioned to create a large new space, opening up opportunities for family-friendly activities and events.
Removing redundant and unsightly walls and planters to the north of the Gardens will improve the children’s play area and create a new pedestrian boulevard connecting to the events space.
Measures are also being introduced to make the space feel safer. A new police response and multi-agency teams will be permanently based in Piccadilly Gardens.
“Our work on the wider long-term vision for the transformation of the Gardens has helped frame and inform these proposals, to create a safer, more welcoming, playful, and greener space. A place that the people of Manchester can be proud of once more. What is delivered will give the opportunity to assess how well the different elements work, which will help inform the long-term vision.”
John Simpson, design lead for Piccadilly Gardens at LDA Design
Proposed changes include:
New events space – replacing the dry fountains with a space for events, building on the success of this summer’s MCR Live 25 with a curated all-year-round programme to animate the Gardens. Planning permission will be sought to remove the fountains and create the new events and activities zone. A new, flexible structure will be built on part of the space to help support events.
Improving playfulness in the Gardens – removing degraded concrete walls and raised planters to create a more open, attractive, and functional space for the children’s play area beside it. New informal, low-level play elements will be incorporated across the Gardens.
A strengthened police and multi-agency presence and upgraded CCTVwill provide greater reassurance. The permanent presence of council, police, and other agencies in Piccadilly Gardens will improve its management and ensure the swift resolution of any issues.
Improved lighting – to animate the Gardens
Images Credit: LDA Design for Manchester City Council