The new HS2 line and Northern Powerhouse Rail are set to be fully integrated in the existing Piccadilly station in Manchester, and the council is planning to create an innovative “Piccadilly Central” district that will transform the surrounding area.
Manchester City Council has unveiled plans to completely overhaul Piccadilly station and the surrounding area as part of the upgrade work that will be undertaken for the new HS2 line, as well as the planned Northern Powerhouse Rail programme which will increase connectivity in the north.
The ambitious project has been described as a “once in a century opportunity for Greater Manchester and the north” by the council, with hopes that the station transformation will effect similar changes to those seen in London’s King’s Cross area, which has seen major regeneration in recent years.
The plans involve moving the existing tram stop at the station to sit underneath the new HS2 platforms, while running alongside mainline train services, creating a “world-class transport hub” that will significantly boost capacity and footfall.
Developing the area
A new tree-lined boulevard has been pencilled running along the northern edge of the station, providing a thoroughfare connecting the east to the west and creating a “major new commercial address”. A commercial skyscraper is also in the pipeline over a new plaza entrance to the station facing the city centre.
Office space spanning 2.9 million square feet has also been planned to the north of the station, with 261,000 square feet of retail space, adding capacity for hundreds of new shops and commercial units in the area – which the council plans to name “Piccadilly Central”. The plans also include the creation of 5,000 new homes and 250 additional hotel rooms.
While HS2 is expected to be completed by 2032, timescales for the Piccadilly project have yet to be set, but northern councils are hopeful that work will commence as soon as possible.
The council said: “Manchester Piccadilly represents one of the biggest development opportunities in the UK, and has the potential to make a significant impact on both the growth of the city centre and the city, but also the national economy.”
