Ambitious proposals for the former site of Manchester Central Park are to go out to public consultation
Plans in 2023 included creating low carbon commercial office space and high-quality, accessible green space
The Government Property Agency (GPA) exchanged contracts to acquire five acres of the former Park in Ancoats from the city council in May this year with a view to constructing a state-of-the-art government digital campus.
This new office complex in the city will bring together a number of Civil Service departments with a focus around digital skills.
Once complete, the campus will be home to around 7,000 civil servants, creating significant opportunities for employment and wider economic development.
The new park space is being designed in collaboration with landscape architects Planit-IE and will help meet the need for quality, attractive green space in the city centre – which will also open up access to the existing Cotton Field Park and Ancoats Marina.
The site will accommodate new walking routes, helping to link to other city centre active travel investment in Ancoats, Northern Quarter and out towards the Etihad Campus.
Detailed design work will continue following consultation to deliver a park space comparable in size to Ancoats Green, which is also currently undergoing redevelopment works.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:
“We are beginning to see the potential of this site unlocked and the plans being developed by the council and the GPA meet the ambitions we have for this important site – including a new city centre park and digital campus that will be home to 7,000 civil servant jobs.
“The new park will help meet demand for high-quality green space in the city centre and will complement other green investment – including Ancoats Green – in this neighbourhood.
“As ever, consultation is the opportunity for our residents to give us feedback on the emerging proposals and help guide this investment that will benefit Mancunians for years to come
