Manchester plans regen framework for Oxford Road station
The city council wants to ensure it squeezes as many benefits as possible from the proposed remodelling of the train station.
A strategic regeneration framework covering the area around Manchester Oxford Road will be prepared, the authority confirmed at a meeting of its executive yesterday [Wednesday].
A report outlining the city council’s response to Network Rail’s plans to redevelop the station was discussed at the meeting. The authority said it “strongly supports” the planned investment, which will see the station closed for up to two years while platforms are lengthened and tracks are upgraded.
However, the council is viewing the scheme as an opportunity to deliver much more than improvements to the station itself.
An SRF for the area would “ensure that the station’s redevelopment takes a place-based approach and not only resolves operational challenges but also maximises its role as a catalyst for further regeneration in the Oxford Road Corridor”, the report states.
The city council wants input on the revamped station’s design so as to “ensure that regeneration opportunities along the existing arches and any disused platform space are not prejudiced”.
Overall, the authority believes the long-awaited redevelopment of the station presents an opportunity to “deliver a new gateway to the city and improve connectivity to surrounding areas, unlocking the full potential of the area, and supporting Manchester’s economic growth”.
To “deliver a new gateway to the city” to unlock the full potential of the area might sound fine but please, not at the expense of demolishing the Cornerhouse, Grand Central and Salisbury pubs to build new and open out the area on to Oxford Road. That group of buildings are irreplaceable in my view and loved by many.
By Phil
No brainer. Crazy that so many railway arches nearby are either boarded up, or home to v. low value added services.
Must say the lack of proposed new entrances / exits to the station looks like a missed opportunity in network rail’s plans
By Anonymous
Needs removing, the whole thing is just a bottleneck that causes through-ward journeys to move at a ridiculous snails pace. Trying to go from Warrington to Leeds and spend half the journey on a slow crawl through MCR.
By Clag
If you want to know what the Council really think of the proposals I’d check out the report on the BBC news site. Not quite so overwhelmingly a positive response as suggested here
By Phil
Put track on Oxford road
By Nicholas Georgiou
A new underground railway is needed between Piccadilly and Deansgate to cot out the congestion that delays nearly every train that passes through this narrow Victorian corridor. This is much more important than a new railway line to Liverpool or NPR
By Anonymous
Preserve the cornerhouse! A Manchester icon!!
By Don cheglioni
They ought to close off the Gt Marlborough St arch and build the main station entry in the space thereby available. Decant an adjacent arch tenant if more space is needed. Lifts straight up to the platforms would be possible from this location.
By WayFay
Is it necessary? Half a mile from Piccadilly? Mothball it.
By Anonymous
Talk of demolishing the Salisbury is surely a bit premature? Unless ive missed something there isnt any suggestion of that? That little cobbled side street is very atmospheric and unlike anything else
By H
2 years seems an awfully long time to do this work.
By Nick
There were moves by the council to put in place a framework that was see the Salisbury, Grand Central and the Cornerhouse demolished in the name of “regeneration” when the plans for the station were last mooted.
By Anonymous
‘Close it ‘..mothball it, ‘it’s too close to other stations!’ Tell me you know nothing about railway engineering without telling me ..etc etc. I don’t know which corner of Instagram some of these people crawl out of.
By Anonymous