Charity announces long term ambitions following public consultation
Design work is underway for an extension to Manchester’s sky park to allow visitors full access to all 330 metres of a Victorian Grade II listed viaduct situated in the heart of the north west city.
The viaduct had been brought back into temporary use by The National Trust in 2022 to test an urban sky park – and gather feedback on its future.
Plans include several entry and exit points to the viaduct and a walkway giving access towards Salford and Trafford. It’s also hoped the area will include more places to sit and enjoy the views of the city.
The charity says there will be a new ‘welcome area’ called the Castlefield Platform, a green and playful area called the Global Garden and the Village Hub which ‘provides an area for community growing.’
It’s expected that the midway point on the viaduct would become the Strawberry Garden which takes inspiration from the 19th century lost recreation gardens of Cornbrook.
Designs for the latter half of the viaduct take advantage of the open-air views, with the absence of the viaduct’s over-head iron girders which only cover the first part of the structure, offering elevated vistas across the city from The Lookout.
The Cottonopolis area takes inspiration from Manchester’s industrial past, before the Pomona Walk leads visitors through treetops and on towards Pomona Island.
The ‘Look Out’ with raised walkways as featured in the Vision for Castlefield Viaduct. ©BPD
Seeking investors and funders
The National Trust is now actively seeking investors and funders to support the plans and secure a future for the urban ‘sky park’.
The conservation charity first opened the viaduct in July 2022 as a pilot to gauge public opinion on the future of the Manchester landmark.
Members of the public and local community have shown strong support for the viaduct with the majority of people hoping that the Grade II listed structure remains open as an accessible green space for people and nature.
The plans for Castlefield Viaduct are part of the charity’s goal to increase access to parks and green spaces in and around urban areas. In doing so, it’s hoped that more people can easily reach quiet places with wide open skies.
‘We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who fed into these plans and designs by visiting the viaduct over the last 18 months, joining workshops and completing our online questionnaire,’ says Nichola Jacques, Castlefield Viaduct Project Manager at the National Trust.
‘It’s clear to see that the community want the viaduct to reach beyond its potential in the future, not only benefitting people and nature but also establishing itself as part of Manchester’s DNA.’
‘These plans mark the start of our next era for the viaduct; a bigger, bolder and more beneficial green space.’
‘This won’t happen without big investment, and we hope these plans will now encourage more funders and supporters to come on board and work with us to achieve this for the city.’
‘A reflection of the diverse and vibrant communities’
Landscape architects from Manchester based design practice, BDP, were appointed in 2023 to work with the Trust, partners and the community to develop plans for the future of the viaduct.
More than 1,000 local people took part in workshops, events and an online survey in late 2023 to share their views which have fed into the community-led designs.
‘The art of landscape architecture is to bring city spaces to life, connecting people and nature and adding prosperity and activity. There is no better example of this in the UK than this vision for Castlefield Viaduct,’ says Darrell Wilson, Landscape Architect at BDP.
‘We designed this project with people in mind but crucially, with people involved so it is a reflection of the diverse and vibrant communities of Manchester. We are so excited to see it become a reality.’
