Manchester
Major plans to transform Piccadilly Gardens for good have been revealed
A marked improvement.
Daisy Jackson -
17th October 2025 
Grand plans to turn Piccadilly Gardens back into actual gardens have been revealed this morning, and this much-maligned corner of the city centre looks completely unrecognisable.
Manchester City Council has shared a detailed plan and new CGIs of how Piccadilly Gardens could look, which includes new flower beds, a new playground, and a new space for family-friendly events.
The plans also include removing the fountains (which are often broken) for good, ripping out the concrete wall, and giving safety some serious consideration.
The safety improvements will include enhanced CCTV, improved lighting, and an increased police presence with a multi-agency ‘base’ in Piccadilly Gardens itself.
It’s hoped that the key corner of the city centre will once again become a safe, green space with no more anti-social behaviour.
This is the first step in a two-part journey to transform the area, with the immediate plan to declutter and revamp the public realm around the gardens.
The new CGIs show a more colourful, green space with more flowers and a larger grassy area, with scope for organised entertainment and family-friendly activities like picnics.
Then in the future, the plans include a multi-million-pound investment by Transport for Greater Manchester for a new, modern transport interchange at Piccadilly Gardens.
In the immediate future we should see the area become more like an actual gardens again, with more trees, planting and floral displays.
Mancs should also expect to see a strengthened police presence, and a Community Partnership van with agencies on hand to deal with issues which arise.
With the removal of the unreliable fountains and ‘unsightly’ concrete wall, there’ll be a new, better-functioning space created to hold events and activities.
The children’s play area will be refreshed, inspired by the new play areas like the ones at Mayfield Park and Ancoats Green.
A year-round programme of events, inspired by this year’s MCR Live 25 celebration and the Manchester Christmas Markets, will also be planned.
The work which doesn’t require planning permission will begin as soon as possible after the Christmas Markets finish.
Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “We want Piccadilly Gardens to be a space Mancunians are proud of once again – and that’s what we are determined to do.
“Manchester City Centre has grown and changed, and there are lots of exciting things happening in our city. We need Piccadilly Gardens to up its game and play its part in welcoming millions of people into our city every year.
“People tell us they want it cleaned up, brightened up, invested in and made to feel safer. It’s still called Piccadilly Gardens and we’ve heard loud and clear from Manchester people that they want its appearance to do more to reflect that name. We’re going to give them more greenery and more flowers as part of a co-ordinated range of measures to improve the look and feel of the area.
“We know there are aspects of Piccadilly Gardens that no longer work – in the case of the fountains quite literally – and we’re determined to ensure the space looks better and feels better. Ripping out the defunct walls, opening up the Gardens and investing in improvements.
“We’ll also be focused on ensuring the area is lively for all the right reasons with a programme of great, family-friendly events, from this year’s Christmas Markets onwards.
“Crucially, this plan is not just about what the Council can deliver but a multi-agency blueprint to address issues with crime and anti-social behaviour, and in invest in other sustainable improvements. All these elements will work together.
“This plan, getting underway quickly, is the beginning of a bright new chapter for Piccadilly Gardens.”
City centre spokesperson Cllr Pat Karney said: “Piccadilly Gardens isn’t living up to anything like its potential at the moment but it could and should be a great public space for Manchester.
“This plan promises to be a massive leap forward. We’ve already demolished most of the hated wall but this package of improvements will go further to make a real and lasting difference.
“We thank GMP for their support in this plan – its success will be not just in improving the appearance of Piccadilly Gardens but in reassuring people that it’s a safe and welcoming space.”
Chief Superintendent David Meeney, GMP District Commander for the City of Manchester, said “Piccadilly Gardens is a vital part of our city centre, and we know how important it is that people feel safe and confident spending time there.
“We’re working closely with Manchester City Council and partners on planning the physical improvements to Piccadilly Gardens, including the position of lighting and CCTV, intending to deter antisocial behaviour and criminality from occurring, as well as strengthen evidence and intelligence gathering opportunities for our investigative teams.
“This plan builds on our proactive, problem-solving neighbourhood policing model and the recent investment through the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee which has allowed us to uplift and strengthen our existing city centre team with new officers and resources.
“Through initiatives like Safe4Summer, we’re already demonstrating our commitment to making Manchester safer by increasing visibility, listening to community concerns, and tackling issues head-on.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Piccadilly Gardens plays a vital role in connecting people across our city region, with hundreds of thousands of journeys made in and around there every single week.
“We are working closely with the Council to significantly improve facilities for Bee Network passengers by creating a more accessible, modern and welcoming interchange in the heart of the city centre.
“After successfully bringing buses under local control and backed by £2.5bn funding from government to deliver transport projects through to the early 2030s, we have exciting plans to further transform the Bee Network, helping to keep Greater Manchester moving and growing by connecting people to jobs, education, and opportunity.”
Read more
- Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 opening date announced – including Albert Square return
- Kenyon Hall Farm’s massive pumpkin festival has returned, with THOUSANDS of pumpkins to pick
- Dunham Massey – The corner of Greater Manchester with unbeatable autumn landscapes and one of nature’s great spectacles
Featured image: Supplied
