Revised plans revealed for Manchester Piccadilly framework

Revised plans for the Manchester Piccadilly framework agreement – which have been drawn up in a bid to help realise the growth potential of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, and establish the area as a key gateway to the city – have been revealed.In March, Manchester City Council’s Executive approved a refreshed version of the document, which was last modified in 2014.During the interim years, a number of initiatives moved forward including the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail network, the revised HS2 route alignment, station redesigns to accommodate the requirements of each transport mode and a new city context, in particular the increasing development density and ambition of city centre schemes.The updated Manchester Piccadilly Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) accommodated a number of changes to Manchester Piccadilly including multiple entry points being established, a new main entrance being developed to increase the scale of the station, the introduction of a shared concourse, bringing the undercroft into public use for the first time to provide retail provision where the greatest footfall is anticipated and a new roof structure to allow for space, volume and light on the HS2 line.A “dramatic” new boulevard connecting three new public sites – a civic arrival space on London Road, a public square where Metrolink exits the station and a city park at the eastern end of the station – was also been put forward.Since then, a public consultation exercise in relation to the Manchester Piccadilly SRF has been undertaken. Letters were sent out to 3,276 residents, businesses and stakeholders informing them about the consultation, how to engage in the process and where to access the updated SRF.In total, 15 responses were received; six from individual residents, six from landowners within the SRF boundary and three from statutory/public organisations. The majority of the responses were generally supportive of regenerating the Manchester Piccadilly area and of the proposals.Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) backed all of the significant changes set out in the update, but did note that further work was needed to assess the Northern Powerhouse station options at Piccadilly, adding that it “might be helpful to reflect this in the SRF”.HS2 Ltd’s response recognised the key design principles for Piccadilly Station within the SRF, but did not comment on the design quality, only on functional requirements. It stated that the station included in the SRF “represents a significant change in the station configuration, compared to HS2’s current design, which would require significant redesign to meet HS2 requirements”.The company also highlighted a number of further areas where the SRF differed from its current proposals, including the location of the car park, the position of the Metrolink station below the HS2 station, the level differences from the new station entrance plaza, and the links between the HS2 and existing station decks.Historic England advised that it had reviewed the document and had no comments to make.As a result of the feedback, a number of specific revisions are proposed to the SRF, although the overall visions and concepts remain the same.One of the key changes is including 62 Chapeltown Street as a development plot, rather than be omitted from project as it had been previously. However, given the proximity of the grade II-listed Crusader Works, the council has noted that any such work would need to be carefully designed.Manchester City Council’s Economy Scrutiny Committee has been advised that the Executive will be recommended to approve the revised Manchester Piccadilly SRF.