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Manchester city centre road closures confirmed for New Year’s Eve fireworks display

Here's everything you need to know.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 27th December 2023

A number of road closures have been confirmed as Manchester city centre prepares for its first New Year’s Eve fireworks display in three years.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas has died down, Boxing Day has been and gone, nobody has a clue what day it is currently, and we’re all just waiting for New Year’s Eve to arrive, and for 2024 to bring new beginnings and a fresh start.

And case you missed it, Manchester City Council confirmed last week that Manchester will be celebrating the big occasion with a bang.

In what is the first time since 2019, and post the COVID-19 pandemic and several accompanying lockdowns, Manchester city centre is gearing up to host a “spectacular” fireworks display that will “say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new”.

Families from all across Greater Manchester are invited down to Castlefield Bowl in the heart of the city centre this Sunday 31 December for the “fun-filled event” that’s free to attend.

Manchester city centre road closures have been confirmed for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display / Credit: Unsplash

Hosted in partnership wit Hits Radio, and kicking off from 10pm and running until the clock strikes midnight and beyond, you can expect a live DJ set from Hits Radio DJ Jordan Lee, a traditional time-to-hug-all-your-friends countdown to midnight, followed by a huge firework display to celebrate the start of the new year.

Capacity for the event is 10,000, and is being operated on a first-come first-served basis, the Council has confirmed.

The event is also alcohol-free, standing only with no seating – except for disability access points and dedicated viewing areas – and anyone attending is asked to limit the bags they bring with them to no bigger than A4 in size, as bag searches will be in operation.

The Council says that, in order to ensure “a safe and celebratory event for all”, security staff will be keeping a close eye on revellers to minimise any disruption and allow everyone to see in the new year together, while being mindful that this part of the city centre has a large residential population by making sure the event arena is promptly cleared after the fireworks display is finished.

To best accommodate the event and everyone attending, the following road closures and parking suspensions have been confirmed ahead of time.

Road Closures

  • Duke Place (Duke Street – Arena): 8:30pm – 1am
  • Rice Street (Duke Street – Arena): 8:30pm – 12:45am (resident vehicles managed in and out of closure)
  • Liverpool Road (Potato Wharf – Lower Byrom Street): 8:30pm – 1am
  • Duke Street (Stone Street – Castle Street): 11pm – 12:45am
  • Beaufort Street (Collier Street – Duke Street): 11pm – 12:45am
  • Castle Street (Car Park – Canal Bridge): 11pm – 12:30am (restrictions out of car park between 11:30pm – 12:15am)

Parking Bays Suspended and ‘No Waiting’ Orders

  • Liverpool Road – 31 December, x4 bays (bays opposite Potato Wharf/Castlefield Hotel)
  • Duke Place – 31 December, x7 bays
  • Duke Street – 31 December, x4 bays
  • Beaufort Street – 31 December, x4 bays
It’s the first fireworks display in the city centre since 2019 / Credit: Alex Jones (via Unsplash)

“We think the time is now right to show how proud we are of our fantastic city, and to celebrate it as we close the door on 2023 and look ahead to 2024 and beyond,” explained Councillor Pat Karney, who is Manchester City Council’s Christmas and New Year spokesperson, as he confirmed the return of the annual new year tradition.

“Mancunians really are the best people in the world, and we can’t think of a better way of welcoming in a new year filled with new possibilities for all of us than spending it with those we love.”

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Customer access to all businesses within the closures will be maintained on the night of New Year’s Eve (31 December), Manchester City Council has confirmed.

More information about the event, and road closures planned can be found on the Council website.

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

News

Police appeal for witnesses after body of woman recovered from reservoir in Oldham

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

An urgent appeal for witnesses has been issued after the body of a woman was recovered from a reservoir in Oldham.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that emergency services responded to an incident at Strinesdale Reservoir, in Oldham, after receiving reports of a woman getting into difficulty in the water this past weekend. 

The incident was said to have taken place at around 4:50pm on Sunday 17 August 2025.

Sadly, despite the prompt call to emergency services, the woman lost her life and her body was subsequently recovered from the water.

Police say there are believed to be ‘no suspicious circumstances’ surrounding the woman’s death, and are instead focusing their investigations on trying to understand what happened by calling on witnesses for information. 

“We are appealing for witnesses who may have seen her as she entered the water,” GMP said in its witness appeal.

Officers are also keep to learn more about the moments prior to her entering the water, and are urging anyone with information to come forward and help with enquiries. 

Read more:

Can you help?

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting log 2357 17/08/25, or by use the LiveChat service on the GMP website at www.gmp.police.uk.  

Independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons / Geograph

News

New £350m sustainable neighbourhood in Stockport given the green light

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Planning permission has been granted for a new ‘walkable and sustainable’ neighbourhood in Stockport town centre.

A major milestone has been reached for Stockport’s transformation, as the new mixed residential mini-village, ‘Stockport 8’ – which was put forward by the local LLP of the same name, set up as part of a partnership between Stockport Council and ECF (English Cities Fund) – has been given the green light, helping to make it one of the most sustainable and liveable town centres in the UK.

The eight-acre site is just one in a series of regeneration projects led by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), as part of ambitious plans to develop land west of the town centre under the ‘Town Centre West’ (TCW) scheme. 

The development is a key element of the wider £1 billion investment currently being delivered.

The plans were recommended for approval at Stockport’s central area committee at the end of July, and were then approved at planning committee last week (14 August).

A new £350m sustainable neighbourhood in Stockport has been given the green light / Credit: Supplied

Located on land either side of King Street West and next to the historic viaduct, the £350m mixed residential neighbourhood – which includes many affordable properties – is expected to ‘breathe life’ back into what was once a ‘thriving’ area under the railway arches, connecting Stockport Interchange with nearby communities in the process.

The plans will deliver approximately 1,300 new high-quality homes to suit existing residents and new homeowners moving into the Greater Manchester town in the next decade.

There’ll be be a mix of residential properties, including build-to-rent and owner-occupier – with a range of sizes to meet the needs of different households.   

The development is also centred around ‘vibrant’ public spaces where people can meet and relax outdoors, helping to improve the wellbeing of residents, while a pedestrian-only street will run through the centre, again to encourage interaction. 

“We’re not adopting a one-size-fits-all approach at Stockport 8,” explained Catherine Chilvers, who is the Managing Director of Stockport MDC.

“Instead, we are investing in high-quality and energy- efficient housing that offers so much more for people at all stages of life. 

“The development sets the bar high for town centre living, creating a considered neighbourhood for residents along with leisure and employment opportunities, while outdoor squares, with a multitude of uses, will allow people to feel connected and enable families to grow.”

Read more:

The first phase of Stockport 8 is due to start on site in 2026 and complete in 2028, with the next phase expected to commence in 2029.

Featured Image – Supplied

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