Manchester’s uber-cool Northern Quarter is set to undergo quite the transformation, with Manchester City Council confirming a date for when development work will take place. This will see improvements carried out at the Northern Quarter hub of Stevenson Square to become more pedestrian and cycle-friendly.
During 2022 it was confirmed the majority of the Square would remain pedestrianised, following a trial which began during the Covid pandemic. From Monday 5 June, contractors will begin work on site to bring a range of improvements to the area.
The improvements set to be carried out will include:
- New pedestrian crossings at the junctions of Hilton and Oldham Street, Hilton and Newton Street, and Lever Street and Stevenson Square
- A two-way cycleway running through Stevenson Square
- New tactile paving
- Additional seating
- Removal of pay and display bays on Hilton Street
- Static blocks to regulate vehicle access to the area
Manchester City Council hopes that these improvements in the Stevenson Square area will not only improve the amenity of the area – which is one of the most-used in the city centre – but also to implement changes that will encourage a greater degree of walking and cycling. Work in Stevenson Square forms the second section of the Northern Quarter Walking and Cycling Scheme, and with sections one and three already completed, progress is being made to create a joined-up network which runs between Piccadilly and Victoria Railway Stations.
Earlier this year the Council announced a new strategy which puts walking and cycling at the heart of transport policy, a policy that will also work towards making Manchester a zero-carbon city, as well as improving people’s access to active travel.
Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It’s been a long-held ambition of ours to make Stevenson Square a more welcoming and accessible place. The steps that will be put in place over the coming months will help make this area a more vibrant and accessible part of Manchester.”
The Stevenson Square improvements are expected to last until October 2023. For a full run down of the works taking place please visit the City Council’s website.