A full planning application for the scheme to transform Piccadilly Gardens has been submitted, marking the latest landmark in delivering the proposals to make the space more colourful, more vibrant, safer and more inviting. It follows public consultation on the plans earlier this summer and, subject to planning permission being granted this autumn, work to make the plans a reality will begin as soon as possible.
Public consultation on the detailed design built on previous extensive consultation about what people wanted from Piccadilly Gardens and included drop‑in sessions and an online questionnaire. Hundreds responded and were broadly supportive of the plans, with more than half (58%) believing they will provide a safe and welcoming new space, 67% saying they provided clear walking routes and almost three‑quarters (70%) saying they would create a greener and more colourful space.
Concerns were raised by some about anti‑social behaviour and how the transformed Piccadilly Gardens will be kept inviting. The Council and its partners, including Greater Manchester Police and Transport for Greater Manchester, recognise that creating a better Piccadilly Gardens cannot just be about physical improvements but will also require new ways of managing the space to ensure it is maintained as a safe and inviting space.
Work to develop this new way of managing the space is ongoing and improvements are already underway, including a strengthened police presence through GMP’s dedicated neighbourhood policing team.
In addition to the main consultation, a series of listening and engagement sessions were also carried out with parents and children around the refreshed children’s play area to ensure it reflects their aspirations. New images of how the children’s play area will look have been released as part of the wider application.
Putting the “Gardens” back in Piccadilly Gardens
Key elements of the application include putting the “Gardens” back in Piccadilly Gardens through more green space including:
- Lawn, trees, planting, seating and colourful horticultural displays
- Creating a new space for family‑friendly events by removing the old, unreliable fountains and establishing an area for activities throughout the year, supported by a new flexible structure referred to as the Welcome Pavilion, which will be the subject of a separate planning application
- Making better use of space by removing the unsightly low concrete walls and raised planters along the edge of Piccadilly Gardens near the Queen Victoria statue and improving the statue’s setting
- Refreshing the existing children’s play area by creating a new, larger playground for younger children, designed to match the high quality of recent play areas at Mayfield Park and Ancoats Green but tailored specifically to Piccadilly Gardens.
The plans will also support a safer space through improved sightlines, better lighting and enhanced CCTV.
Once the physical works are completed, the Council aims to ensure a regular stream of bespoke family-friendly activity and seasonal events to enjoy.
The new scheme will complement other changes 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.
