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New images released of Piccadilly Gardens as transformation plans take a big step forward

That... actually looks like a garden now

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 17th June 2026

Plans to transform Piccadilly Gardens to make them more ‘colourful, vibrant and safe’ have taken a big step forward today, with new images released.

Manchester City Council has shared the vision to the public ahead of a planning application being submitted this summer.

The plans to finally give Piccadilly Gardens some love were revealed last autumn, but things are now moving at pace with a delivery team appointed to design and build the new public space.

The new images show the vision for more green space, including lawns, trees, planting, seating, and colourful horticultural displays.

The temperamental fountains will also be removed for good, replaced with a new space called The Pavilion which will host family-friendly events.

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The low concrete walls and raised planters at the edge of the gardens will be ripped out, improving the setting of the Queen Victoria statue.

There’ll be a new, larger playground for younger children, created in the same high quality style as the new parks at Mayfield Park and Ancoats Green.

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A pre-planning consultation has started today and will run until Wednesday 15 July, with plans to submit the final planning application later this summer.

The new-look play area at Piccadilly Gardens
The new-look play area at Piccadilly Gardens
Plans for the new Piccadilly Gardens from above
Plans for the new Piccadilly Gardens from above

The council has said that these new designs reflect feedback from the public and opinions on what we want to see at the new Piccadilly Gardens.

Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “We’re getting on with sorting out Piccadilly Gardens. We all want to see a space which Mancunians can be proud of – a welcoming and attractive environment which people want to spend time in.

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“So as well other initiatives which are delivering more police and more CCTV, we’re bringing forward this scheme to transform the public space. That means investment in more flowers, more greenery, a new welcome pavilion, a new and bigger playground and an altogether more inviting Piccadilly Gardens. A bright new chapter is just around the corner.”

Further planned improvements to the area around Piccadilly Gardens in the coming years will include a multi-million pound investment by Transport for Greater Manchester to create a new, modern transport interchange.

More information can be found at HERE.

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Featured image: Supplied

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Council calls on Manchester public to help bring hundreds of empty homes back into use

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Residents across Manchester are being called on to help bring hundreds of empty homes across the region back into use.

Since the beginning of this year, a major review has been underway around the city’s draft strategy for bringing empty homes back into use to help meet demand for affordable homes across the city, while also improving communities by tackling empty homes that can blight an area… but now, Manchester City Council needs your help.

Following a major public consultation, the Council is now acting on feedback to accelerate plans to bring as many long-term empty homes back into active use as possible.

Although the number of long-term empty homes in Manchester is near a historic low, with the Council having managed to reduce the number by more than half since 2013, there is still more work to be done.

“Every void property is a missed opportunity to provide a family a place to live, reduce homelessness, and lessen the burden on temporary accommodation,” the Council said in a statement.

Houses
The Council is calling on the Manchester public to help bring hundreds of empty homes back into use / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)

So, how can residents help then? What do you need to do if you spot an empty home on a street nearby?

Well, the easiest way to report an empty home is to report the issue online here, or by emailing [email protected]. And then once that’s done, a team of dedicated empty homes officers will take up the case to find out who owns the property and work with the owner on a plan to bring the home back into use.

The vast number of empty homes are privately owned with complex histories, and there are some cases where an owner may have passed away.

While working collaboratively with housing providers, voluntary organisations and public services are also a key element of detecting potentially empty or ‘problematic’ homes to repurpose them.

Greater Manchester reveals £11.7m plan to tackle empty homes across the region

Officers can also support, where required, if a communication or language poses a barrier to resolving an empty home issue.

Tailored approaches to different communities – where empty homes impact neighbourhoods in different ways – are also being considered, according to the Council.

“To think, if we could bring all empty homes back into use, then we could provide more homes for those on the housing register and take pressure off the whole housing system,” explained Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development.

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“The potential of making empty homes a thing of the past is huge for Manchester families looking for a place to call home – and a significant part of tackling the housing crisis.”

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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Urgent travel warning issued ahead of one of Manchester’s busiest event weekends of the year

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Greater Manchester is gearing up for what is set to be one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Manchester‘s biggest music festival, Parklife, returns to Heaton Park this weekend (Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June), with tens of thousands of people expected to make the journey to see headliners Calvin Harris, Sammy Virji, Skepta, and Zara Larsson, as well as many other well-known music names… but that’s not all.

Over at the Etihad Stadium, Take That are set to perform a series of shows across the weekend, while the Etihad Campus will also host the Women’s Netball Final at Co-op Live from 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

The city will also welcome Lily Allen and the B52s across three nights at the AO Arena, and the Women’s Cricket World Cup will draw thousands to Emirates Old Trafford on 21 June, when South Africa take on India.

So, as you can see, we’ve got a jam-packed couple of days coming up.

In fact, it’s estimated that more than a quarter of a million people are expected to be travelling to the various events over the weekend, and of course, this means the roads and public transport will be significantly busier than usual.

Whether you’re one of the many fans or just making a regular journey, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is advising everyone to ‘plan ahead’, allow extra time for their journey, and avoid the busiest areas and times.

To prepare for the increase in travel, TfGM has confirmed that there will be more trams serving event venues, alongside extended tram operating times, to ensure everyone gets home safely.

For travel to and from Parklife, the specific Parklife travel ticket – which will be available on the Bee Network app – is valid on trams and buses across Greater Manchester, and this includes relevant shuttle buses operating to and from the city centre.

An urgent travel warning has been issued ahead of one of Manchester’s busiest event weekends of the year / Credit: Steve Turvey (Supplied) | TfGM

Throughout the weekend, extra staff and TravelSafe Support Officers will be out and about across the transport network to help passengers, and TfGM will be working closely with police and other partners to manage roads and the transport network around the clock.

“We’re expecting it to be very busy across the network, with more than a quarter of a million fans travelling to various sports and music events,” commented Danny Vaughn, who is the Chief Network Officer at TfGM.

“We will have as many staff as possible on the network, running as many services as we can to ensure that the Bee Network is here to help you get where you need to go.

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“So, for everyone looking to get out and about, please plan ahead, check the Bee Network app for updates and have a safe journey.”

A dedicated travel page for this weekend’s event has been set up, so you can find out everything you need to know and get live updates on the Bee Network website here.

Featured Image – TfGM

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