Is Manchester City Centre about to get a brand new park?

But is this green space really on the horizon, or just a distant possibility?

The consultation, which opened on Tuesday, August 27th, seeks input from local residents, businesses, and other stakeholders about the redevelopment of the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats.

While the council promises to deliver much-needed green space, the focus of the project seems to be on creating a digital campus for the government. Could this mean that plans for the park might be overshadowed?

Promises of a new green space at the former Central Retail Park

The council’s ambitious vision includes a new city centre park to address the increasing demand for green spaces in Manchester.

Designed by landscape architects Planit-IE, the park aims to link to existing green areas like Cotton Field Park and Ancoats Marina, providing new walking routes and active travel options.

However, the size of the park has raised eyebrows.

The council compares it to Ancoats Green, a relatively modest space currently undergoing redevelopment.

This has left some wondering whether the new park will truly meet the needs of a growing city with limited green space, or if it will simply be a small patch of grass amidst a sea of development.

A Digital Campus at the Heart of the Plan

The GPA is set to acquire five acres of the former retail site, where it plans to create a government digital campus.

This new office complex will bring together 7,000 civil servants, with a strong focus on digital skills.

The promise of job creation and economic development sounds promising, but the digital campus seems to be taking centre stage in the redevelopment plans.

While the park is part of the proposal, it’s clear that the digital campus is a major priority.

With commercial office space being touted as a key element of the site’s transformation, some locals are questioning how much of the area will truly be dedicated to green space, and whether the park will end up feeling like an afterthought.

Consultation: real input or a formality?

Public consultations are underway, but will local voices really shape the final outcome?

The council has emphasised that feedback will help guide the plans, but with a Strategic Regeneration Framework already agreed upon in March 2023, some residents are sceptical about how much influence they will have on the final decisions.

Two public consultation sessions will be held at Halle St Peter’s in Ancoats, with the consultation period running until September 23, 2024. After that, planning applications will be submitted later this year.

But with the council and GPA already making bold claims about the digital campus, it remains to be seen whether the new park will truly materialize as promised.

The bigger picture

This development is part of Manchester’s broader efforts to regenerate its city centre, balancing economic growth with the need for green spaces.

But as the city continues to expand, there’s growing concern that public amenities like parks might be sacrificed in favour of commercial interests.

The consultation may be an opportunity for residents to make their voices heard, but the question remains: will Manchester really get the new park it needs, or will it be just another piece of green in a rapidly developing city?

Local input and the final outcome of these plans will be critical in determining whether Manchester’s green space ambitions are truly met, or if the city will continue to struggle with limited parks in the face of rapid development.

You can find out about the proposals for a new park at the former Central Retail Park by clicking here