For years now, one of Manchester's most iconic buildings has been in hiding. The city's 'magnificent' town hall has been undergoing a major, £325m restoration in the biggest heritage project currently under way in the UK.
Since closing in 2018, the building has become encased by a white weather-tight 'wrap' covering some of the most extensive scaffolding in Europe. Underneath it, specialist workers are carrying out the painstaking task of restoring every aspect of the Grade I listed Victorian neo-gothic building.
The project is now halfway through the construction stage and set to finish in summer 2024 – although it might be longer before it reopens to the public. Once complete, the project promises to make the 150-year-old building more accessible than ever before, with many of its treasures to be put centre stage.
