Manchester City Council has announced plans to launch an international design competition this autumn to create a “world class space” in the area centred around Piccadilly Gardens.
With an estimated construction budget of around £25 million, the council is inviting urban design and landscape teams from across the globe to present their ideas for the regeneration of the 10-acre site – which also takes in Mosley Street and New York Street, Parker Street, the section of Portland Street which Piccadilly Gardens runs alongside, and the section of Piccadilly which runs alongside the gardens.
The Piccadilly area has been described as a “prominent gateway location” as it serves a unique range of functions – including as a major route through the city centre, a transport interchange, a space for markets and events, a meeting place and a green space to spend time.
The council says that work will continue to develop a detailed design brief ahead of expressions of interest being invited in autumn this year from those looking to take part in the competition.
The competition comes after over 1,700 responses were submitted by Manchester people, businesses and organisations at a consultation held earlier this year that discussed future uses for the area.
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An international design competition has launched to find a team to create a world-class space in and around Piccadilly Gardens.
Proposals will be based on a consultation earlier this year, which attracted 1,700 responses from residents.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 31, 2021
So, what brief will competition entrants need to follow then?
Manchester City Council says it envisages that Piccadilly will be a special place with a strong sense of identity, welcoming and uniquely-Mancunian, and one that allows for the flexible hosting of events.
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It must be “a place for all” that incorporates space where children can play, while full access and inclusivity will also be integral to the design process.
The council recognises that it is important to the people of Manchester to retain a green space in the centre of the city, and is calling for planting to encourage biodiversity and improve air quality in line with the wider environmental goals.
It is also essential that the design promotes safety, and is well lit with clear sightlines.
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The council says it is looking to potentially relocate existing Parker Street bus services if improved alternatives can be found, and the winning design will need to retain the existing listed monuments and statues, and tramlines and infrastructure, as well as the existing Pavilion structure.
The Piccadilly area has been described as a “prominent gateway location” as it serves a unique range of functions / Credit: Manchester City Council
Speaking ahead of the competition’s launch this autumn, Sir Richard Leese – Leader of Manchester City Council – said: “The Piccadilly area has the potential to become an outstanding open space in the heart of Manchester, befitting the city’s international status.
“We recognise that it needs to be transformed to ensure that it can realise its potential as a welcoming and flexible space.
“We want to create a place that people are talking about for all the right reasons.
“The publication of this notice is an important step closer to this aspiration and underlines the ambition we have for the area – ambition we know that Manchester people share – and we will of course be seeking further views from the public later down the line once we have a successful scheme to put to them.”
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You can find more about the Piccadilly Design Competitionhere.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
Manchester
Manchester rent is now ‘41% more expensive than five years ago, according to a recent study
Danny Jones
Yes, that’s right, as per some of the latest data on leased housing in central Manchester, it’s now approximately 41% more expensive to rent here than it was half a decade ago.
If you’ve lived in and around the city centre for long enough, chances are that you’ve already been feeling that difference, especially of late.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis roughly began in 2021, following the economy and the world essentially opening back up after multiple lockdowns, so it’s little surprise that new research has shown affordability when it comes to renting has been on a slump ever since, too.
As well as the price of seemingly most things in everyday life going up post-pandemic, the average rental rate for even just a one-bedroom flat/apartment has jumped up significantly between 2020 and 2025.
Even some ‘available’ housing in town is being hampered by claddin (Credit: Valienne via WikiCommons)
That’s according to the numbers crunched by credit card experts, Zable, anyway.
Not only did their recent report cite the rent prices going up even before the cost of living crisis – essentially following the outset of the Covid-19 outbreak – but if their figures, the rate of inflation and the unwaveringly high demand for housing are anything to go by, this trajectory is likely to continue in 2026.
As of February this year, around one in three UK households is now a single-person occupancy, which already comes with its challenges (the Manchester City Council tax discount being a thin lifeline for countless), not to mention energy bills and the cost of groceries continuing on an upwards trend.
Put in the simplest and most reductive terms, it’s now almost £300 dearer for most people to live on their own than it was back in 2020, and besides Liverpool clocking in as second on the list of increasingly expensive cities to live (a 42.12% increase), Manchester came in third.
You can see the full table down below:
Rank
City
% increase – 2020-2025
Difference from 2020 to 2025 in £
Average rental cost for a 1 bed 2025
1
Newport
47.39%
£2,611
£8,121
2
Liverpool
42.12%
£2,290
£7,727
3
Manchester
41.00%
£3,364
£11,569
4
Edinburgh
40.28%
£4,620
£16,090
5
Leicester
39.93%
£2,391
£8,379
6
Wolverhampton
39.22%
£2,049
£7,273
7
Nottingham
39.07%
£2,400
£8,543
8
Glasgow
38.02%
£2,679
£9,725
9
Colchester
37.63%
£2,617
£9,572
10
Cardiff
37.06%
£2,828
Average rental cost for a 1-bed 2025
Another fear is that with lots of people finding it hard to manage living in other major cities like London, even those moving to Manchester are also having an impact on how available affordable housing is here.
That’s why schemes such as the new ‘social rent’ development over in Wythenshawe are so important to the current generations of renters, with the possibility of owning your own property in the future becoming increasingly difficult for so many.
It’s also worth noting that Manchester ranked fourth among the British locations where the cost of living is said to have increased the most over the past five years, with the average difference in annual spend growing by an estimated 22.84%.
Unspoiled Lancashire village with no aerials or road signs named one of the best places to visit this spring
Daisy Jackson
A village in Lancashire has been named one of the best places to visit in the UK this spring – and it’s not hard to see why.
The picturesque little village of Downham has been owned by the same family for centuries, and has no road signs, no aerials, no overhead phone lines. It really is totally unspoiled.
The Assheton family, who reside at Downham Hall, has ensure the village and surrounding farms remain as a preserved, unspoilt community.
And that’s caught plenty of attention over the years, with the village used as a setting for TV and films over the years thanks to its historic charm.
After you’re done wandering, you can grab a scoop of local ice cream, or a pint in the 18th century Assheton Arms gastropub nearby.
The village has just been named one of the top places to visit in the UK this spring in a new guide released by LNER.
They said Downham feels like ‘a step away from the everyday’.
The listing says: “If you’re looking for somewhere that feels a step away from the everyday, Downham is a good place to start.
“Family-owned for generations, the village has kept things simple, no road signs, no aerials, just open views and a quiet sense of history.
“Set within the Forest of Bowland, it’s easy to see why it’s been used as a backdrop for films and TV over the years, including Whistle Down the Wind and The Secret of Crickley Hall.
“Grab a scoop of local Lancashire ice cream from the village shop and head to the banks of Downham Brook, a perfect spot to sit and listen to the water as the village wakes up for spring.
“Finish your trip at the award-winning Assheton Arms; this 18th-century gastropub sits at the highest point of the village, serving up seasonal plates alongside tranquil countryside vistas that make the modern world feel miles away.”
David Flesher, Commercial Director atLNER, said: “At this time of year, many people are looking for a chance to make the most of longer days and see more of the country as it’s changing with the season.
“Across the UK, some of the best scenery sits beyond the larger towns and cities, in villages that offer a different pace and new experiences. Travelling by rail is one of the best ways to reach these places and enjoy the journey along the way.
“This research highlights destinations that showcase the variety of landscapes across the country, encouraging people to step outside their usual routine and see more of what’s on their doorstep, and further afield.”
The Manc -
2nd August 2021 
