Latest images of green vision for Circle Square unveiled

THE green vision for Manchester city centre’s Circle Square has been unveiled.

Landscaping plans feature a public realm and green space with lawns, river parks and gardens and over a thousand new plants, flowers, trees and shrubs.

Bruntwood and Select Property Group say the new neighbourhood will provide a “colourful place for living, working, shopping and socialising unlike anywhere else in the city.”

Three ‘character’ areas in the neighbourhood have been designed to offer an environment for visitors, workers and residents to escape their daily routine.

The first will be a grassed area with a low rise pavilion underneath which will feature events throughout the year. The space will be surrounded by a ribbon of restaurants, cafés, bars and shops.

Alongside the River Medlock, a riverside park with new paths and spaces will reconnect this part of the city with the river.

Finally, there will be a green street close to the river, with independent shops and restaurants, pocket gardens and outdoor seating areas.

Ed Lister, managing partner at Planit-IE, the landscape architects helping to create Circle Square, said: “From the very start, the JV partners behind Circle Square had a clear vision of what it wanted to be – diverse, innovative and extraordinary. Our role throughout the design process has been to capture this ambition and create a canvas capable of hosting and framing the memories of residents, workers and visitors for years to come.
“The creation of a generous green space at the heart of the development and new riverside park will help to define the neighbourhood, whilst also making a significant contribution to Manchester’s wider green infrastructure.”

Paula Brockwell, lead psychologist and head of client delivery at business wellbeing experts Robertson Cooper, said: “It is widely recognised that there is a direct correlation between a person’s living and working environment to their health, happiness and overall wellbeing.

“We have carried out various research which show that by integrating green spaces and natural elements, it can significantly impact on energy levels, productivity and creativity so it is fantastic to hear this is happening in Manchester at Circle Square.”