‘Help shape the future of our city centre’
A road sign on Princess Street in Manchester city centre.(Image: Anthony Moss | Manchester Evening News)
Major changes to a key Manchester city centre street have been put forward. A consultation has been launched on improving pedestrian access on Princess Street (A34).
Manchester council bosses are considering proposals to build better and wider pavements; create more room for people walking; and improve pedestrian crossings in the heart of town.
The consultation is centred on Princess Street between Portland Street and Mosley Street. The route is a key corridor for bus and foot traffic.
It’s part of a wider plan to improve pavements in the city centre and make life easier for those walking and cycling, as well as giving more space for pedestrians and people waiting at bus stops. Initial planning began in 2024, when the council asked people for their thoughts on changes to John Dalton Street and Bridge Street.
Consultation starts on improving pedestrian access on Princess Street (A34), between Portland Street and Mosley Street. (Image: Manchester City Council)
The A34 corridor is an essential transport network through the city centre, linking Salford with Manchester and connecting thousands of people to key transport hubs in St Peter’s Square and Piccadilly Gardens each day.
It also provides access to the civic quarter where buildings like the Town Hall, Central Library and Manchester Art Gallery are located. Manchester council believes it could be more seamless and their proposed changes for this area aim to:
- Widen the space on pavements for people to walk and wait at bus stops
- Improve and widen the pedestrian crossings at the Mosley Street junction and Portland Street junction
- Improve pedestrian crossings on narrow side streets by raising the carriageway
- Improve the aesthetic look of Princess Street by using uniformed paving materials that complement the grade listed buildings and St Peter’s Square
- Declutter and remove any unnecessary street furniture
- Add new loading bays on George Street and Faulkner Street
Councillor Tracey Rawlins, executive member for clean air, environment and transport, said: “During the first stage of our consultation on the future of the A34 – a vitally important route through the city centre – we gathered some insightful feedback from Mancunians.
“The message we received is that people want safer and nicer routes to walk through the city centre, and to ease crowding on the pavements when waiting to catch one of the city centre’s many buses.”
She added: “Manchester is already a great place to be, somewhere where people want to visit, work and live with clean air, and safer, greener streets. Through this scheme, we want to make it even better. I’d encourage people to take part in this consultation and help shape the future of our city centre.”
To have your say on the proposed changes to Princess Street, click here.