Town Hall Extension and Central Library plans go on show

Details of planning applications for the refurbishment of Manchester’s Town Hall Extension and Central Library go on display next week.

Both historic buildings are being lovingly refurbished to preserve them for future generations while enabling them to deliver improved, state-of-the-art services.

Improvements to the Town Hall Extension, Central Library and St Peter's Square are part of the Council's wider transformation programme to improve customer services and access while investing in key public buildings and spaces.

As they are Grade II* listed any internal alterations require planning consent and Manchester City Council has been working closely with English Heritage to ensure that these are sensitive and fully respect the buildings' historic interiors.

Members of the public will be able to learn more about the proposals at a pre-planning consultation drop-in event in the former Manchester Visitor Information Centre on the corner of St Peter's Square on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 July (both 8am to 7pm) and Saturday 10 July (10am to 3pm). Project team members will be on hand to answer visitors' questions.

The transformed square will stand at the heart of an area which is attracting massive private sector investment - with an estimated £1 billion of redevelopment creating much-needed jobs for the city.

Design proposals for Library Walk, the curved walkway between Central Library and the Town Hall Extension, will be brought forward separately.

Councillor Bernard Priest, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, said: "This programme is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to upgrade the services offered from these buildings and radically improve the experience of Manchester people using them.

"Investment in these historic gems will support the extensive private sector investment which is taking place in the area around the town hall complex.

"Changes to make Town Hall Extension offices more open plan will also mean we can save money by enabling Council staff currently located in a number of city centre buildings to move under one roof."

A crucial element of the refurbished Town Hall Extension will be a new Customer Service Centre, allowing  Manchester people to gain fast, easy and efficient access to a wide range of council services in a single visit.

The Council's new temporary Customer Service Centre at Number One First Street, at the junction of Albion Street and Whitworth Street West, is already demonstrating the kind of improvements it will bring.

The transformation programme also involves an international design competition to transform St Peter's Square into a world-class public space.