The SRF is hoped to help support the capacity of two major upcoming rail programmes, HS2 and the Northern Powerhouse Rail. Credit: Bennetts Associates.

Manchester City Council has approved the 2018 Manchester Piccadilly Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) following a public consultation.

Overseen by UK-based architecture firm Bennetts Associates, the SRF will include a major district redevelopment of Piccadilly Central railway station and the surrounding area, as rail projects such as High Speed 2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail will require a modernised district that is fit for a major international city.

With the aim to transform the station into a gateway to the city, integrating all modes of transport, the proposals for the Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester will create a ‘One Station’ solution that encourages all infrastructure stakeholders to work together.

An integral part of the SRF project is the plan to transform underutilised and poorly connected lands into a high-quality area comprising of a series of ‘neighbourhoods of choice’ with a focus on redeveloping streets, squares and parks.

The proposed SRF will also feature a new major east-west route, The Boulevard, which will open up the development lands, connect areas to the east through Piccadilly Central and link a number of new public spaces.

The Boulevard’s western end will have a new square serving the main station entrance, accommodating a significant increase in passenger numbers. At the eastern end will be the proposed Medlock Park linking to the city centre.

Manchester’s urban fabric will serve as an inspiration for the redesign of the brick arches under Piccadilly station, which are set to become a retail destination.

Bennetts Associates director Julian Lipscombe said: “The wider SRF and Piccadilly Central represent one of the biggest development opportunities in the UK. Collectively, they will make a significant impact on the economies of the city and the region.

“The SRF is intended to be ambitiously transformative whilst creating a sustainable locale for people that speaks of a Mancunian sense of place. Getting the station right is fundamental to success and we believe the proposals are a significant contribution to achieving this objective.”