HawkinsBrown designs New Islington bridge
The structure would cross the Ashton Canal, connecting the Chips building with General Projects’ 325,000 sq ft Pollard Street scheme on the opposite side.
Under plans lodged by Manchester City Council, the bridge would sit alongside the existing walkway that traverses the canal at the grade two-listed lock three.
The project is aimed at improving access for pedestrians and cyclists in and around New Islington.
The existing crossing “restricts movement and is significantly compromised for use by cyclists and pedestrians due to its narrow width and uneven surface”, according to architect Hawkins\Brown.
The project is aimed at improving access for pedestrians and cyclists in the area. Credit: via planning documents
As well as the bridge, a ramped cycleway/walkway is to be constructed on part of the Ashton Canal’s western towpath, next to the Chips building.
Hawkins\Brown also designed a bridge across the River Irwell, linking New Bailey in Salford and Manchester’s St Johns. Work on that project is yet to begin despite funding being secured in 2019.
Wilde Consultants is the structural engineer for the project and Deloitte Real Estate is the planning consultant.
General Project’s Pollard Street development attracted the ire of local residents who objected to the scheme as it proposes building on an area known locally as New Islington Green.
Residents use the grassed area next to New Islington Metrolink stop for recreational purposes.
However, last December the council approved General Project’s plans for the office park despite pleas to preserve the green space.
General Project’s scheme would deliver 325,000 sq ft of offices. Credit: via planning documents
It will improve access to the planned offices that nobody in the area wants
By Frank
The destruction of new Islington green by this scheme is unforgivable
By John
Why are they getting rid of what little green space we have in the city for offices. The center is filled with vacant offices still. Why destroy green space for more?
By Anonymous
More the reason to convert ancoats retail to a park
By Meeseeks
Spot on Meeseeks. Communities have green parks, not car parks. To convert that to a park would be a doddle.
By Elephant
God no, Great Ancoats Street would be the worst place for a park
By YS
Good news. Looking forward to this area being transformed with MXM. Go to Philips Park or the new Mayfield Park if you want green space.
By Steve
Excellent news, good to see the city is progressing. Want a green space, live in the suburbs.
By Big Dub
Anyone who doesn’t want more green space clearly doesn’t spend much time in the city centre.
The city can grow fast and people can still have easy access to green space. Why would you want to compromise if you genuinely wanted the city to continue to grow?
Phillips Park is ages away, Mayfield hasn’t even been built yet and the existing green spaces are already heavily used.
By Anonymous
Live in the suburbs for green space. That will be why everyone in London lives in Ealing then.
By Elephant
Living in the city doesn’t mean concrete jungle we can still have urban parks.
By Meeseeks
We absolutely need more connections like this across the city centre and beyond to fully allow all neigbourhoods to connect, and create and easily walkable/cyclable city. Regardless of what people think on Islington green, this is a very positive addition to the city centre
By Bradford
Definitely agree with the comments about the needs for parks. The city is in desperate need of some quality, open space. A city should be dense and busy with all that comes with it, bit should also have areas and pockets of space where people can relax, gather and get away from the overwhelming claustrophobic feeling a bustling city can cause. Commenters suggesting it’s a city so we should put up with it obviously haven’t been to London or seen Central Park, or been to any number of world class cities where parks and skyscrapers/hi-rises live side by side. This is what Manchester should be aiming for and not over-develping every parcel of available land.
I do like this development, but the council need to somehow invest in plots and transform them into parks.
By The Squirrel's Nuts
There are loads of parks in Manchester, people are just too afraid to use them
By Cal
Philips Park isn’t ages away at all, its about a mile. Granted, it’s in a more working class area without the coffee bars and bakeries but its no distance on the scheme of things.
By Harpsicord
There’s another article on this website saying that balconies aren’t necessary to another commentor and now on this article you’ve got people saying that parks around 20-30 minutes walk (Phillips Park) is acceptable.
There are tonnes of other opportunities to provide offices, which is fantastic by the way. However if you truly wanted Manchester to grow sustainably and successfully, much more open and green spaces are needed and these kind of opportunities are much harder to come by.
This isn’t about being a hippy, I’m all for development and parts of the city look fantastic now.
It’s about ensuring the city continues to grow in the future. If people don’t have easy access to green spaces (not a 20 minute walk!) or the quality of life, the city will suffer in the long run and anyone who thinks otherwise should check where their priorities lie with Manchester.
By Anonymous
People and nature do not mix. People want to live in flat blocks surrounded by office blocks. If they want, they can pay to see people living in the natural world on tv: and see films of children playing on grass. FYI: children are little people.
By James Yates