Demolition date set for Piccadilly Gardens wall 

Work to knock down the freestanding part of Japanese architect Tadao Ando’s controversial concrete wall will begin on 16 November, Manchester City Council has confirmed. 

Plans to demolish the wall, built in 2002, were approved by the council last month.  

The demolition forms part of wider plans to transform the area, which are being drawn up by LDA Design. 

A consultation on the future of Piccadilly Gardens is due to start before the end of the year, as reported by Place North West in September. 

As part of the redesign of the gardens, improvements will also be made to the Pavilion building, owned by Legal & General, which includes the other part of Ando’s wall.

By knocking down the wall, the council hopes it will be easier to see across and move through Piccadilly Gardens, with poor sightlines cited as a contributory factor to antisocial behaviour. 

The overall regeneration scheme will cover an area including a section of Piccadilly to the north of Piccadilly Gardens, Parker Street to the south and Mosley Street to the west.    

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Piccadilly Gardens is a much-used public space with huge potential.  

“The regeneration of this prominent space will have a big part to play [in the city’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic] by hosting appropriate events and encouraging and supporting nearby business activity and job creation.”