In 2023, plans were revealed for the future of Castlefield Viaduct, which could see an extension to the Victorian structure, and now a significant proportion of the funding needed for the next phase of the project has been secured. The National Trust has a long-term future vision for the Castlefield Viaduct ‘sky park’ in Manchester, with plans including several entry and exit points to the viaduct and a walkway giving access towards Salford and Trafford.
National Highway’s Historical Railways Estate Team, working in partnership with the conservation charity, has committed £2.4 million to fund a significant part of the structural and foundation work for Phase 2 of the project. A further £100k will be funded by Manchester City Council, £100k has been pledged by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and a grant of £150k is also being given to the project from the Railway Heritage Trust.
The Castlefield Viaduct masterplan, termed the ‘Vision,’ is a direct response to public feedback from viaduct visitors and the local community who took part in a series of workshops, events and an online survey in autumn 2023. As well as an extension of Castlefield Viaduct, designs also feature more places to sit, relax and take in the views of the city, pop-up spaces for community activities and events and winding paths through planted areas to encourage people to take time out from the busy city below and connect with nature. Plus, the installation of stair and lift access to Egerton Street.
In the Vision, seven ‘character’ areas have been identified as part of the future viaduct, plus the Gold medal-winning WaterAid Garden from this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, that looks similar to Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, will be relocated to the viaduct. A new welcome area called the Castlefield Platform, a green and playful area called the Global Garden, and the Village Hub which provides an area for community growing, all feature in the designs.
The midway point on the viaduct would become the Strawberry Garden, taking inspiration from the 19th century lost recreation gardens of Cornbrook. Designs for the latter half of the viaduct take advantage of the open-air views, with the absence of the viaduct’s over-head iron girders which only cover the first part of the structure, offering elevated vistas across the city from The Lookout.
The Cottonopolis area takes inspiration from Manchester’s industrial past, before the Pomona Walk leads visitors through treetops and on towards Pomona Island. The National Trust is now actively seeking investors and funders to support the plans and secure a future for the urban park.
This could increase the scale of the viaduct experience for visitors from 150 metres to the full 330 metre length of the structure. Currently, visitors walk through a series of spaces and gardens before coming to an untouched section of the viaduct beyond a glass wall. It’s this untouched section which the Trust and its partners are turning their attention to next.
The conservation charity opened the viaduct in July 2022 as a pilot to gauge public opinion on the future of the Manchester landmark. Members of the public and local community have shown strong support for the viaduct, wanting the Grade II listed structure to remain open as an accessible green space for people and nature.
The plans for Castlefield Viaduct are part of the National Trust’s Urban Places work to increase access to parks and green spaces in and around urban areas, so that more people are in easy reach of quiet places with wide open skies.
Hilary McGrady, National Trust Director-General, said: “This funding is brilliant news for Castlefield – a hugely inspiring project to bring nature and green space to communities across Manchester. It will allow us to bring Phase 2 of this iconic sky park project to life, increasing its size and adding WaterAid’s striking Gold medal-winning garden from the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
“Its popularity over the past few years demonstrates how residents and visitors to the city value access to the outdoors and experiencing nature up-close in an innovative industrial heritage setting.
“This is something we want to continue and do more and more of in the years to come at the Trust. That is why this funding is so important. Our aim over the next 10 years is to ensure more people have access to nature particularly in our towns and cities, and to bring nature to people’s doorsteps wherever they live.
“Thank you to everyone involved. This project is something the Trust – and all the organisations and companies involved – are so proud of.”
The recently secured funding will cover the costs of the key structural, access and construction improvements to Phase 2 with funding still needed for the planting scheme – for the trees, plants and outdoor seating areas to create an urban oasis for people and nature to enjoy. The National Trust is estimating the funding shortfall to be in the region of £500k, but this may increase due to the current economic climate.
With planning approved by Manchester City Council in April 2025, the structural work for Phase 2 of the viaduct is expected to start in the autumn with the new section expected to open in summer 2026.
The viaduct remains open to members of the public, with opening hours being Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. Advance booking for the viaduct has now been completely removed, allowing visitors to explore at their own leisure. Find out more about Castlefield Viaduct and view the future Vision for the green space and its extension here.