Great Ancoats Street

An innovative and functional vision for the A665 inner relief route

With the redevelopment and continued investment into Manchester’s Northern Quarter, the city’s inner relief road, the A665 Great Ancoats Street is under increasing pressure to maintain its function as a key vehicular route and pedestrian gateway. Great Ancoats Street is part of the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy and Local Transport Plan.

The brief was to develop a public realm strategy that reflected the Northern Quarter’s context and heritage, that delivered high quality finishes and acted as a catalyst to support further redevelopment.

“A professional team delivering quality outputs.”

Val Edwards, Project Manager, Manchester City Council

An innovative and functional vision was created around four key design themes:

• Sustainability
• Green Corridor
• Gateway
• Identity

With the aim to:

• Create a simple and robust streetscape through the rationalisation of furniture and signage.
• Make the street environment safer and more attractive.
• Enhance, connect and utilise the existing canal and green space.
• Improve integration and connectivity with surrounding neighbourhoods and the city centre.
• Enhance the environment and reducing air pollution with green corridor and sustainable drainage solutions.
• Promote and enhance pedestrian and cycle movements.
• Reinforce and interpret local character to achieve a distinctive neighbourhood through a simplified palette of high quality, sustainable and durable materials that reflect the area’s unique character.
• Enable inclusive use and enjoyment of the public realm for all.
• Sustainable long-term management and maintenance.

The resulting design vision formed the basis of an Outline Business Case which was approved by the Council in April 2018.

Urban Green is now continuing to develop the vision and has been appointed to deliver both tree planting and sustainable drainage solutions along Great Ancoats Street.