Last year, plans were revealed for the future of Castlefield Viaduct, with the potential to extend the Victorian structure, and now new designs have been unveiled. The National Trust has revealed images showing plans for the long-term future vision of the Castlefield Viaduct ‘sky park’ in Manchester, including several entry and exit points to the viaduct and a walkway giving access towards Salford and Trafford, which will be submitted for planning permission.
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. 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.
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.
Nichola Jacques, Castlefield Viaduct Project Manager at the National Trust, said: “This planning application is a major step towards the National Trust and our partners finding a future for Castlefield Viaduct.
“We’ve been blown away by the passion, creativity and local pride expressed towards the viaduct since it opened three years ago. It’s clear that Manchester wants the viaduct to remain open and reach its full potential to bring nature to more people in this urban setting, share its story in the city’s history, and connect other parts of the city through active travel routes.
“This journey can begin by opening access to the full deck of the viaduct and providing a canvas for future ideas and opportunities which we hope will attract investment from funders and partners.”
Timings for the construction of Phase 2 are subject to planning approval and further funding being secured. Work could begin as early as 2025.
The viaduct will remain open to members of the public throughout 2024, changing to Wednesday – Sunday opening from October 2, 2024. 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 here.