A major ‘plan ahead’ warning for the weekend has been issued ahead of what is set to be Manchester’s busiest day of the year so far.
Heading into the city centre this weekend? Yeah… you and everyone else by the sounds of it, as Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is encouraging people to plan their journeys ahead of a ‘Super Sunday’ that sees the return of the Manchester Marathon, while Manchester City also take on rivals Arsenal at the Etihad.
More than 40,000 runners and countless supporters will arrive in Greater Manchester for the marathon on Sunday 19 April.
Runners will set off from the Trafford Arch, near Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium from 8:55am until 11:30am, with the 26.2 mile route covering areas such as Deansgate, Stretford, Sale, Chorlton, and Altrincham, before finishing outside the University of Manchester (UoM) on Oxford Road.
A major ‘plan ahead’ warning has been issued ahead of Manchester’s busiest day of the year so far / Credit: Janus Boye | Supplied
These are likely to cause congestion and delays in the affected areas, TfGM has confirmed, and there will be ‘widespread’ bus diversions.
Elsewhere in the city, Manchester City’s Premier League clash with fellow title-chasers Arsenal kicks off at 4:30pm – with 55,000 fans set to be making their way to the match.
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Due to both of these major events taking place on the same day, Bee Network trams and dedicated matchday buses are being touted as the best ways to get around.
👟 Running shoes at the ready… As it’s the @Marathon_MCR on Sunday 19 April.
📣 Going to the race to cheer a runner on? The Altrincham, Timperely, Brooklands and Sale tram stops will be the busiest throughout the day.
It’s predicted that the Altrincham and East Didsbury lines will be ‘very busy’ on the day, and people may have to wait to board a tram so should allow at least 30-minutes extra time for travel, with the quickest way to pay being the contactless ‘tap and go’ payments, where fares are, of course, capped and automatically calculated based on the number of zones you travel through.
Those travelling by bus over the weekend should do so at quieter times where possible, and are advised to check the Bee Network travel alerts hub for any diversions on their route.
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Match day buses will still run, but fans should expect some route changes due to the marathon road closures.
People are being ‘strongly advised’ by TfGM not to drive – but for those that need to, using a park and ride site and continuing the journey by tram is a ‘quick and easy’ way to travel into the city centre, and is also free with a valid Metrolink ticket.
Further information for runners, spectators, and match-goers, as well as those making other journeys on Sunday, can be found on the dedicated Bee Network webpage here.
Featured Image – Manchester Marathon
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New images released of Piccadilly Gardens as transformation plans take a big step forward
Daisy Jackson
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.
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.
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 GardensPlans 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.
“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.
Council calls on Manchester public to help bring hundreds of empty homes back into use
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
Emily Sergeant -
14th April 2026 
