The plans for a new green space in Manchester have been pushed forward, with Manchester City Council revealing images of what Ancoats Green could look like. Major investment at Ancoats Green is now underway to create a much-improved city centre park space as part of the closing chapter of the regeneration of Ancoats that began more than 20 years ago.
The plans aim to connect the wider community to the new Ancoats Mobility Hub, which is designed to reduce vehicle traffic in Ancoats and promote a more pedestrian friendly, cleaner neighbourhood. The walkways and footpaths will also be lit around the Ancoats Mobility Hub to Butler Street to ensure residents are comfortable walking through the neighbourhood at night.
Ancoats Green will act as the green focal point for the Manchester city centre area, with walking and cycling routes from Poland Street through to Butler Street, and from Portugal Street to the Rochdale Canal. The Green will have a highly sustainable design, with at least 30% of new surfaces will be made from reclaimed materials to create a permeable drainage system , and granite paving stones removed from Albert Square (as part of the ongoing Our Town Hall project) will be lovingly reused at Ancoats Green, celebrating the city’s story and reducing the carbon footprint of the development.
The council says the investment will encourage active travel as the natural option to move across the neighbourhood, as well as creating more opportunities for the local community to enjoy time outside, including new accessible play areas for young people, adding to the ‘Active Travel Strategy‘ and Bee Network we’ve been seeing more and more in Greater Manchester.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Ancoats and New Islington – and Miles Platting to the north – are proving incredibly popular places to live and it’s not surprising as a city centre location close to jobs, services and entertainment, alongside excellent transport links.
“We also know that more and more people are choosing to have families in the city centre and we have an opportunity through this investment to create a new green heart for Ancoats with open grassed spaces and new play park that will allow the community grow and knit around it.
“This is part of a long-standing and long-term commitment that we have to make Manchester a greener, more attractive and cleaner place to live. We are committed to creating more high-quality green spaces for residents and visitors and this project is echoed by green investment across our city – including throughout or Victoria North programme, as well as the former Central Retail Park and our new Mayfield Park.”
Ancoats Green is set to be completed by 2024, a community hub with new play areas – including accessible play equipment. In addition, open green spaces and generous footpaths have been proposed, for running, cycling, hosting small events and relaxing. There will also be 1380m2 of new planting, 3650m2 of wildflowers, 290m2 wetland planting and a 76% net increase in trees – any trees removed (either due to disease or those with a limited life span) will be replaced 2:1 – all to increase wildlife biodiversity.
Jersey Green and Prussia Street will begin their transformations in 2025 and 2027 respectively, and will remain open with improved footpaths, additional seating and better connections to Miles Platting and New Islington, and the Prussia Street greenway will link the Rochdale canal with Ancoats Green via Jersey Street.