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October 24, 2025

UK Property Market / Manchester

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Piccadilly Gardens is a central hub within Manchester, located right in between some of the city’s busiest hotspots, as well as hosting multiple transport networks. On paper, it has everything needed to welcome visitors into a bright, growing city.

In recent years, the gardens have attracted increasing levels of anti-social behaviour. However, the city council has just announced multi-million pound plans to revitalise the area into everything it should be.

Not only will this improve one key area of the city, but it also clearly shows how determined Manchester is to continue building a world-class place to live, work, and invest.

 

The Plans

Manchester City Council revealed their plans for the two-phase regeneration on Friday, 17th October. The works will begin shortly after the Christmas Markets close, in the new year.

The fountains in the middle of the site, which were built in the early 2000s, will be completely removed and replaced with greenery and flowers. Fixing the fountains was deemed too costly, and council leader Bev Craig stated that the money will instead be spent on “what Manchester people tell us they want.”

Flowers will be installed, which the public will vote for at the Manchester Flower Festival, along with keeping the popular, colourful Manchester sign that people have been queuing up to take photos with.

“It’s still called Piccadilly Gardens and we’ve heard loud and clear from Manchester people that they want its appearance to do more to reflect that name.

We’re going to give them more greenery and more flowers as part of a co-ordinated range of measures to improve the look and feel of the area.”

– Bev Craig, Manchester Council Leader

The walls along the edge of the gardens will be removed, and additional lighting will be installed. A dedicated neighbourhood team will be formed, with a permanent police presence in the gardens. The council is currently identifying a suitable location for Greater Manchester Police to be based, which may also double as a tourist information point.

A new “flexible structure” will be built within the gardens, a space for “family-friendly events”, as suggested by the town hall. Designed by children themselves, the playground is set to double in size, as it’s one of the most popular areas within the site.

The first phase of the plans is set for completion in 2026.

Adjacent to the gardens are tram stops and the bus station, which see millions of visitors every month. As part of the £2.5 billion funding boost for city centre transport, a new transport interchange for trams and buses will be created.

Councillor Bev Craig said they will look towards Stockport for inspiration for this interchange. The site in Stockport opened early in 2024 and saw 350,000 bus departures in its first year – it went on to win the Silver Jubilee Cup for Best Planning Scheme at the Royal Town Planning Institute Awards.

Completion of the new interchange is due by the end of the decade.

“Piccadilly Gardens plays a vital role in connecting people across our city region, with hundreds of thousands of journeys made in and around there every single week. We are working closely with the council to significantly improve facilities for Bee Network passengers by creating a more accessible, modern and welcoming interchange in the heart of the city centre.”

– Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Manchester

The UK’s fastest-growing city, with yet another scheme to enhance the Northern Powerhouse. Brightening up the gardens will not only make it a more enjoyable location to spend time and pass through, but it’ll also help advance nearby areas such as the well-known Northern Quarter, and improve transport throughout the city.

Piccadilly Gardens connects you to every part of Manchester – with buses running direct to Wythenshawe, Didsbury, and Stockport, and trams offering quick links to hotspots like the Etihad Stadium, Old Trafford, New Islington, and the city’s main stations.

Market Street is Manchester’s busiest location, with a footfall of 300,000 each week – and right at the end of it sits Piccadilly Gardens.

With such a vital and high-footfall area being drastically improved, more and more people will be encouraged to visit the city centre, live there, and invest there.

 

 

Invest in Manchester

It’s no secret that Manchester has taken the top spot for investment. A fast-growing population, strong government and private funding, and major businesses moving to the city are all driving sales and rental prices up.

Demand is severely outweighing supply, and with prices still considerably more attractive than the capital, it’s clear why investors are looking to Manchester to make the most of their properties.

Investing in Manchester now means you’ll benefit from everything the city has to offer. If you’re ready to start your journey, or want to speak to an expert for more information, get in touch with Orlando Reid Invest.