Historic area of Manchester city centre to get major revamp

The oldest part of Manchester city centre is to undergo a major transformation as part of a new scheme.

A planning application has been submitted for the area around Manchester Cathedral and Chetam’s Music School.

The plans will include a tree-lined park alongside the river and a network of walkways and tree-lined spaces.

The area has been dubbed the Manchester Medieval Quarter. Chetam’s is one of the oldest buildings in the city centre and parts of the school date back to the 1420s.

A planning application which includes Victoria rail station, the Corn Exchange and the area around the National Football Museum have been lodged with the city council.

The scheme has been designed by architects SimpsonHaugh. The firm is responsible for some of the biggest schemes in Manchester including Two St Peter’s Square and the Great Northern Warehouse.

The designs are the first part of the council’s plans to revamp the area around Victoria Station and Manchester Cathedral.

Galliford Try has been chosen to deliver the project and work is expected to start later this year.
A masterplan was published two years ago and the planning application is the first phase of the scheme.