13.03.18
Council bosses reveal Manchester Piccadilly’s ‘Northern Hub’ HS2 overhaul
New plans to develop Manchester Piccadilly and the surrounding area in preparation for both HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) have been unveiled by city council bosses.
Much of the development would be north of the station, with 2.9 million sq ft of office space to be created alongside a further 261,000 sq ft retail space.
Central to the plans would be the idea of a ‘Northern Hub’, linking the future NPR lines with the current station and the new HS2 connections – a lot of this is expected to be done in spaces beneath the existing structure.
The Piccadilly Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) is described as a “multi-million pound” scheme, although specific details of the costs have yet to be revealed.
However, Manchester City Council bosses say plans are based around the agreement of a long-term funding deal with central government, which has already been a central part of the city’s transport strategy.
The plans aim to build on the stations potential to impact the growth of Manchester and make Piccadilly “one of the best connected and most productive locations in the north of England.”
Councillors have described the introduction of HS2 as a “once-in-a-century opportunity” and say this, coupled with the advent of NPR, will allow them to create a “world-class transport hub and arrival point into the city.”
“The SRF sets out the ambition to transform the eastern side of the city centre by defining a unique sense of place and new districts and providing key linkages between east Manchester and the city centre,” explained the council’s plans.
There will also be a new boulevard developed as part of the work, with access to each level of the station’s concourse and links to the rest of the city.
Plans for changes to the platforms and track at Piccadilly were a central part of TfN’s new Transport Strategy, with work expected to boost capacity and create new through-routes.
Top image: Manchester City Council
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