Piccadilly Gardens is set undergo a big transformation — but it's unlikely to look much like the old gardens many Mancunians fondly remember.
For much of the 20th century Piccadilly Gardens, which opened in 1914, boasted botanical displays in a sunken space. A dramatic redesign in 2002 cast those into memory, and the current design, along with concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour, has fed nostalgia for the gardens in their heyday.
Potential designs for another revamp were first submitted to the council in autumn 2021, and are currently being whittled down.
The M.E.N understands that council bosses have all but ruled out the idea of going back to a 'sunken garden' display in the area, which saw a gradual decline from the 1960s - however, it's promised that the public will be invited to 'shape the future' of the space when a new plan has been decided on.
It's understood that four new designs have been shortlisted from ten contenders, with the council in talks with ‘all design teams’ to clarify and refine plans to come up with the best possible plaza.
Final designs for the project were initially going to be made public in March, with the whole scheme set to cost £25 million - a figure which council chiefs are resigned to revising due to inflation.
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A design team is now expected to be publicly announced later in the summer.
Council leader, Bev Craig, said: We know how important Piccadilly Gardens is to Mancunians and visitors alike, and have committed to investing in improving this prominent public space so it becomes a place in which they can have real pride,” she said in a statement.
"Lots of people have already shared their thoughts and ideas. Work is well underway and we are in the process of selecting and appointing a design team who will work up detailed plans.
"Once these are ready we will ask Manchester people's views. As soon as we're in a position to do so we will make sure we share proposals with Manchester people so they can help shape the future of this important public space."
Another source close to the process says that a return to the ‘rose garden’ layout of Piccadilly Gardens' past is something which ‘cannot’ happen, due to the nature of the square being used as a transport hub, shopping district, protest site, and parkland.
They have also suggested that one big idea being examined is the pedestrianisation of Piccadilly, outside the Morrisons store. That would involve relocating a series of bus stops.
Running alongside the Piccadilly Gardens project is a separate, but 'complimentary' plan to improve the existing pavilion which delineates the bus station from the grassed area. That would involve removing a concrete roof and refurbishing two commercial buildings alongside the tram line, with the council's hope being that the opening up of the pavilion will lighten the area up and make it more visitor-friendly.
