The refurbishment of Manchester Town Hall has taken one step closer to completion this week as the fencing around Albert Square has finally come down.
For the first time in several years, office workers, commuters and visitors have been able to enjoy the civic space in front of the Grade-I listed structure, which was closed in 2018 for refurbishment.
It is one the largest and most complex heritage project undertaken in living memory anywhere in the UK. It’s centrepiece, the Town Hall, is considered one of the nation’s finest and most architecturally-important civic buildings.
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The ongoing ‘Our Town Hall’ works were initially due to be completed in December 2023, however the pandemic and other delays have seen the costs and length of work dramatically increase.
In November last year, Manchester council confirmed the overall revamp would cost £524.8m and would be complete in ‘spring 2027’, taking nearly a decade.
The fencing around Albert Square has been removed as part of the Town Hall’s ongoing transformation (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Deputy council leader, Garry Bridges, said at the time that the authority was ‘frustrated’ at the new delay and spiralling bill, but believed no extra cash would be needed and the spring 2027 date will be met.
He said: “Like everyone, we have been frustrated by the increased time and cost involved. But if we had not acted decisively to invest in the future of this Victorian masterpiece, many parts of which were reaching the end of their natural lifespans, we would have seen it become unusable and obsolete.
“We’re glad that we’re now on a confident path to completion in spring 2027, in time for the 150th anniversary of its original opening. The results of the project will be there for people to appreciate and enjoy for the next 100 years.”
The fencing around Albert Square has been removed as part of the Town Hall’s ongoing transformation (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Last November, the Manchester Christmas Markets returned to Albert Square and drew thousands of visitors to the historic venue – signalling that the works to the city centre civic hub were almost complete.
While the external façade of the town hall remains clad in scaffolding, and workers continue the restoration of the building, fencing around Albert Square was removed yesterday (April 20) with those passing through the square able to make the most of the transformed space.
Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “Albert Square is Manchester’s civic heart and one of the focal points of the city. It’s bigger and better than ever, ready to be a world class public space. With most of the work to Albert Square concluded, we are pleased to be able to remove the temporary fencing so people can enjoy it and see the quality of the work.”
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
As part of the council’s efforts to transform it into a ‘world class’ events space as part of the project, Albert Square has been enlarged by 25 per cent by its pedestrianisation on three sides. Now, rather than simply a thoroughfare for those working and commuting through the city, the square has sprang back into life with office staff perching on the benches around the square and the steps of Albert Memorial – a monument to Prince Albert, Prince Consort of Queen Victoria.
Some well-timed sunshine has seen those passing through and visitors to the city dwell in the space, taking lunch breaks or heading to the cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars on the periphery of Albert Square and soaking up the sun on the terraces.
Making the most of the sunshine friends Leah and Emily decided to spend their lunch catching up on the square with their offices in close vicinity. “We both moved offices recently so it’s perfect timing really,” says Emily.
Friends Leah and Emily make the most of the sunshine of Albert Square(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
“I think it’s the architecture, it’s just a nicer environment. You don’t feel like you’re in the centre of Manchester here. I’d much rather sit here than Piccadilly Gardens. It feels more professional around here and people will definitely come here especially when the sun is out.
“A lot of people leave their home towns to come to the city centre so having a space that feels like you can collaborate and network, even if you’re on your own you don’t feel alone because it’s lively and there’s others about. People will come here sit, read, eat and drink.”
Hospitality businesses in the area have previously spoken of the detrimental impact of the delays to the Town Hall restoration, not least the loss of big public events such as summer festivals and the Christmas Markets. Someone who has followed the ongoing works closely is David Fox, owner of Tampopo, a restaurant he established on the far side of Albert Square almost 30 years ago.
Restaurant owner David Fox(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
“I am spectacularly excited, it’s great and has been a long time coming,” he told the Manchester Evening News.
“I’ve bought into the vision of it and I think it will be great for the city. I look forward to working with the council, as are all the other operators, to make this a fabulous civic square for people to come down, spend time here and interact with and I’m looking forward to the events that are going to be taking place in the square, starting with Manchester Day in July and I think it will be a square that we are proud of.”
On this point, council leader Bev Craig added: “The square being reopened will also benefit the businesses around it and enable those with licensed outdoor seating areas to make full use of them.
The transformed square will be able to host large scale events again (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
“People visiting the space will also have the chance to get up close to the newly-restored Grade II-listed Albert Memorial complete with the railings which were part of its original design back in place for the first time in many decades.
“We look forward to welcoming the public back into the square – and into the city’s magnificent town hall when it reopens next year.”
The council said last November that the wider project has been impacted by a ‘unique combination of challenges’ since its construction phase started in 2020. Wider factors have ranged from disruption caused by the Covid pandemic and a volatile economic climate, influenced by external factors such as the war in Ukraine, to unprecedented materials and labour cost inflation in the construction industry.
Now, with Albert Square unveiled, momentum is finally gathering. With most of the external work complete the focus of the project is moving to the Town Hall’s interior. A formal opening date for the town hall has not been named but the Manchester Evening News understands that the works are due to be complete by the end of 2026.