Pedestrian-only plans for square New vision revealed for historic plaza
THESE images reveal how Albert Square could be pedestrianised as the council looks to make the historic plaza ‘one of the finest civic spaces in Europe’.
The designs are the latest in the council’s plans for a huge revamp of both the iconic town hall itself and the cobbled square in front of it over the next six years.
Their proposals would see the road leading around the edge of the square – apart from Princess Street – blocked off to traffic, expanding the existing space by 20 per cent.
New trees would line its fringes in a vision presented to councillors ahead of a public consultation.
Detailed designs have not yet been drawn up, but the council has released indicative images showing the existing heart of the square stretching up to the bars and restaurants that line its western and southern edges.
It hopes to create a larger pedestrian area that flows from St Peter’s Square along Lloyd Street, through Albert Square and on to Lincoln Square.
The council has carried out an initial traffic survey on Albert Square showing that about 3,000 vehicles drive round it each day, but it says they can be ‘readily’ re- routed. As yet it is unclear where the taxi rank would move to, but it is understood Southmill Street, Countess Street and Clarence Street are all under consideration, although the trade will be consulted as part of the process.
The square’s bus stop would also need to be relocated.
A gradually sloping ramp will be built up to the main town hall entrance on the square itself, in order to make the civic treasure more accessible to the public.
The plaza’s distinctive statues, which are themselves listed, will be left in place.
Once complete, the Albert Square part of the revamp – which will cost roughly £13m of the overall town hall project’s £330m budget – would become a more flexible space with a larger capacity for events such as the Christmas Markets and Manchester International Festival, according to the council.
Coun Bernard Priest, lead member for the Our Town Hall project, said: “We are making significant progress on this ambitious project to safeguard, refurbish and partially restore the iconic town hall building while enhancing its surroundings. “Albert Square is a much-loved public space where Mancunians and visitors come together for a huge range of cultural and civic events. It is, in many ways, the heart of Manchester. These proposals will see it take its place among the very finest international public squares.” The plans were shown to councillors at a July meeting as part of a wider presentation about the progress of the town hall project, which aims to prolong the lifespan of the landmark building, update its heating and electrical systems, open it up further to the public and make it more efficient. As yet it is unclear how long the work on Albert Square will take, with bosses looking at doing it either early in the project all in one go, or delivering it in phases – but they say the space will be reopened well before work on the building itself is due to be complete in 2024. Coun Bernard Priest