Manchester City Council has officially given the green light for the next phase of the Castlefield Viaduct regeneration project — an exciting development that not only enriches the city’s green spaces but also signals opportunities for new roles in construction, landscaping, and project management.

The ambitious scheme, led by Twelve Architects as Masterplanners and BDP as Landscape Architects, will extend the current pilot project — a 120m ‘sky park’ that opened in 2022 — across a further 330m of the Grade II-listed viaduct. New York’s famous High Line inspires this vision and aims to create a permanent, elevated urban park.

This next stage of development will introduce a second entrance to the park from Egerton Street, new access points across the route, and an extension towards Pomona Island in Trafford. One of the exciting landscape features will include WaterAid’s award-winning garden from this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, complete with a rainwater harvesting pavilion designed for sustainability and resilience against heavy rainfall.

The National Trust, owners of the site, still need to secure an additional £3 million to bring the full vision to life. However, planning permission for the permanent park — rather than the temporary use established during the pilot — is now firmly in place.

                                                                                                                  Image Source: BDP and Twelve Architects

As a recruitment agency passionate about connecting talented professionals with exciting opportunities, we see projects like this as more than just urban improvements — they are job creators. Regenerating a historic site like the Castlefield Viaduct will require skilled workers across various disciplines, from structural engineering and conservation specialists to horticulturists, environmental consultants, project managers, and more.

Castlefield Viaduct holds a special place in Manchester’s history. Built in 1892 by Heenan and Froude (the engineers behind Blackpool Tower), it originally carried heavy rail traffic into Manchester Central station. After the station’s closure in 1969, the viaduct became dormant — until now.

National Trust Project Manager Nichola Jacques described the transformation as an opportunity to create a vital green space for the 50,000 residents living within a 20-minute walk. She highlighted the importance of protecting the viaduct’s heritage while delivering real environmental and social benefits to Manchester.

We’re excited to see how this project progresses — not only for the positive impact it will have on urban living, but for the skilled professionals who will help turn this incredible vision into reality.

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Sources: 

Architects Journal - BDP and Twelve Architects’ proposals to extend an urban park across a disused Grade II-listed viaduct have been approved by Manchester City Council

Image source: BDP and Twelve Architects