Bernstein reveals new Piccadilly station vision

A NEW Piccadilly Station will be a funding priority for Manchester following the  general election, Manchester city council chief Sir Howard Bernstein said.

More capacity is needed to accommodate the multi million pound investment in rail infrastructure coming to the city with HS2 and possibly HS3, and city leaders want to secure finance for expansion before rail works begin.

Sir Howard said: “How we approach Manchester’s transport agenda is crucial to our long term success and you are going to be hearing a lot about a new station post the election.

“We have to get things in the right order and anticipate and plan for the future. There is a need for a different approach about how we drive station investment.”

Last month the council announced a major land deal with Transport for Greater Manchester and London and Continental Railways (LCR) for the adjacent Mayfield station site which is planned to be a mixed use development with 230,000sq ft of offices, retail and leisure, 1,300 new homes a hotel and a six acre city park.

Sir Howard said other sites around Piccadilly such as the former UMIST campus and London Road Fire Station were also key.

Speaking at business event last week he reiterated why the council is making a second atrempt to force Britannia Hotels to sell the London Road site.

He said: “It is clear the owners of the Fire Station do not want to develop the building, and there is no shame in that. But what they now should do is sell it to us and we will find somebody who will develop it. This site will become even more pivotal to the regeneration framework in the next few years. We have to move the site along and will keep pressing to do that.”

Sir Howard was speaking to an invited audience at the second “In Conversation ..” event organised by law firm Slater Heelis.