New drone footage of the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester has been released, and it shows the impressive “scale and ambition” of its current multi-million-pound restoration project.
The new drone footage – which gives an aerial view of the site to outline the huge footprint of the museum, and most-notably show the work being delivered on the Power Hall roof – was captured by by David Bewick at Boca films, and has been assembled into a short film which is now available to watch on YouTube and the museum’s social media platforms.
The film also shows some of the repairs being made to other parts of the museum, and future plans for the significant heritage site.
In case you didn’t already know, the Science and Industry Museum in the heart of Manchester city centre is currently undergoing a “critical” programme of restoration works, which will eventually reveal some exciting new spaces and perspectives for visitors to enjoy, play, and learn in once it reopens to the public.
The restoration work currently ongoing is aiming to transform the Grade I and Grade II-listed Victorian buildings that make up the seven-acre city centre museum site.
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See the immense scale of our seven-acre restoration programme in this short film.
Explore our historic site from new heights with inspiring drone footage and take a closer look at revolution in progress.
— Science and Industry Museum (@sim_manchester) June 21, 2022
The works will create improved gallery experiences, which include the iconic Power Hall – where the term Northern Powerhouse was actually coined – and the 1830 Station and Warehouse, which are some of the world’s earliest railway buildings.
The museum is also creating new connections through to The Factory – a landmark new cultural space in the city opening next year – and the River Irwell and beyond, all with the aim of “enhancing the sense of place” in its vibrant quarter of Manchester.
A number of outdoor areas are also being planted, according to the museum, with colourful new schemes to encourage biodiversity and indoor and outdoor areas for families.
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The Science and Industry Museum is currently undergoing a “critical” programme of restoration works / Credit: Science Museum Group
“This is a very exciting time,” explained Sally MacDonald, director of the Science and Industry Museum.
“We have the honour of occupying some truly exceptional buildings, which are in urgent need of restoration and we are working with specialists and taking great care to transform them, addressing historic issues to conserve important details, but also looking to the future to ensure our buildings are sustainable and provide the best experiences for visitors.”
She continued: “We’re sorry if the work causes disruption, but we are sure that the final results will be well worth it, as more visitors from our local communities and beyond can enjoy the museum and continue to be inspired by the wonder of science and industry.”
The museum remains open to the public while the restoration works are taking place / Credit: Science Museum Group
“What can be achieved here will bring lifelong benefit to everyone who lives in and visits the city and it can transform the site into a place that not just explores ideas that change the world but a museum that can itself change people’s worlds through wonder and play, and inspire curiosity, confidence, and skills,” she added.
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The Science and Industry Museum remains open to the public while restoration works are taking place, with several exhibitions and experiences to make the most of.
Trafford Centre announces opening hours for 2025/26 festive season – including Boxing Day
Emily Sergeant
Trafford Centre has published its full list of opening hours for this current festive season.
We all know that the Christmas period is one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry, with people flocking to the shops in their millions to snap up festive gifts for their loved ones, and it only gets busier from Boxing Day onwards too when all the sales launch, offering shoppers some unmissable deals and bargains.
And nowhere in Greater Manchester gets busier during the festive season than the Trafford Centre. After all, with more than 200 stores all under one room, it’s not hard to see why.
This year, shoppers can make the most of extended opening hours at the Trafford Centre right through to New Year’s Day – with late night shopping until 11pm on selected dates in December leading up to the big day.
Alongside being a one-stop-shop for gifts, there’s also dozens of festive events and new Christmas lights to enjoy at the Trafford Centre too, so visitors can tick everything off their list and have a great day out while they’re at it.
The shopping centre will be open from 9am – 5pm on Christmas Eve, so you can whip round and grab any last-minute presents, before it’s closed fully on Christmas Day, and then opens again bright and early at 8am on Boxing Day.
Trafford Centre Christmas Opening Hours 2025/26
18 and 19 December: 10am – 11pm
20 December: 10am – 10pm
21 December: 12pm – 6pm
22 and 23 December: 10am – 11pm
Christmas: 9am – 5pm
Christmas Day: Closed
26 December: 8am – 8pm (some stores may be closed, please check with individual brands)
27 December: 10am – 9pm
28 December: 12pm – 6pm
29 and 30 December: 10pm – 10pm
New Year’s Eve: 9am – 5pm
New Year’s Day: 12pm – 6pm
It’s also worth noting, however, that not every store inside the Trafford Centre will be open on Boxing Day, so you’ll need to check with individual brands ahead of time.
For the restaurants, stores, and leisure venues that are open, you can check their specific trading hours on the Trafford Centre website here.
When it comes to festive event, The Grotto is open until Christmas Eve for pre-bookings only, and the Christmas fairground and ice rink, Big Wheel, and Gandeys Snowstorm Firebird show are all open until 4 January (closed Christmas Day).
Featured Image – Trafford Centre (Supplied)
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Greater Manchester’s ‘clean taxi’ plans backed by government funding
Danny Jones
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) ‘clean taxi’ initiative has been officially backed by the UK government, with an extra boost coming from a leading electric vehicle brand.
Millions of pounds are set to be pumped into the scheme over the coming years as the North West at large strives to become greener.
The Mayor himself, Andy Burnham, has made environmentally conscious travel a core part of his plans for the city region ever since he took up the post back in 2017; now he and his team are helping link up with connections in the capital to secure further investment.
With the new £8 million Hackney Support Fund being put into action as we speak, a further £2m is now set to go towards Manchester city centre and its surrounding boroughs via LEVC.
LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) have done away with classic petrol and diesel engines in their particular corner of the automotive industry, setting a more eco-friendly example for metropolitan cities up and down Great Britain.
As a result, Manchester City Council and the GMCA as a whole are looking to take a leaf out of their book as part of their wider carbon reduction targets, with local authorities having recently reaffirmed their five-year ‘climate change action plan’.
For context, the Hackney Support Fund in question is a series of government-backed grants aimed at helping taxi drivers replace older black cabs with more modern, zero-emission capable vehicles.
Not only that, but LEVC will also be offering licensed carriage drivers extended warranties on new and used TX cabs – like their new ‘eCity powetrain’ pictured above – as well as taxi scrappage allowance on other models.
Like any part of the country, our region itself has its own clean air goals, and with the continued expansion of the Bee Network continuing to advance that progress, we’re heading in the right direction.
It goes without saying that adding a fully-fledged fleet of cleaner, more energy-efficient EV taxis into that mix could help benefit these greener pursuits.
Managing Director at LEVC, Chris Allen, noted that the company has “helped the capital achieve legal air quality targets for the first time” and strongly believes that they can do the same up North.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Our taxi trade is a vital part of Greater Manchester’s transport network and supports the local economy.
“That’s why we’re working hard to secure funding and practical support to help drivers upgrade to cleaner, greener vehicles – improving air quality for everyone, while protecting livelihoods. By backing our taxi trade, we’re building a fairer, healthier city-region for all.”
Emily Sergeant -
22nd June 2022 
