The public realm improvements on Copson Street and Rutherford Place are due to start shortly. Work will begin on Rutherford Place on 4 November 2024 up to late December 2024. Work will include:
- Removal of refuge island
- Signage changes
- Removal of bollards
Work will start again on both Rutherford Place and Copson Street in January 2025 and will last until March 2025. Traffic management will be in place while the works take place.
The work will be carried out by our appointed contractor. Construction on Copson Street and Rutherford Place will be in phases to limit disruption. Traffic management will include signs and detour routes.
Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times. The construction areas will be clearly signed. Barriers with signs will protect pedestrian routes.
We will provide safe, direct access routes to nearby shops, homes, and Surcon House. We'll minimize disruption to business operations. Signs will be in place to advise businesses are open as usual.
The changes taking place consist of:
Copson Street
Copson Street will be part-pedestrianised between Wilmslow Road and Patten Street and the one-way system will be reversed. The street will be narrowed. The carriageway will be raised to the footpath level. Along with the reversal of the one-way system, vehicles will be banned from this section of Copson Street. Exemptions are for cyclists, access, blue badge holders, and loading/unloading. Loading times will operate between 6am and 11am. There will also be new trees, lighting and seating.
Core testing work will be done on the evenings of 5 and 6 November from 7pm. Noisy work will end by 11pm.
Rutherford Place
Davenport Avenue will be one way to Wilmslow Road. This will deter non-local traffic. The southern section of Wellington Road will be closed off to traffic between Wilmslow Road and Rippingham Road. A one-way southbound operation will be introduced along Wellington Road from its junction with Lausanne Road. The current one-way (eastbound) on Rippingham Road will be reversed. It will become one-way westbound.
The closed-off section of Wellington Road will be raised to footway level. We will also add new rain gardens, trees, and seating.
Download plans for both areas.
You Said, We Did
Most of the public who responded to the initial consultation on the original designs for Copson Street and Rutherford Places were in favour of the plans. But, some were concerned about the limited public space around Rutherford Place and the business needs along Copson Street. The feedback led to some changes to the original designs.
The legal consultation on the Traffic Regulation Order changes to Copson Street and Rutherford Place ran from 10 July to 4 August 2024. The design changes that were consulted on were:
- Reversing the one-way system along Copson Street to run west to east towards Wilmslow Road.
- Copson Street to be part-pedestrianised between Patten Street and Wilmslow Road.
- Reversing the one-way system along Davenport towards Wilmslow Road.
- Wellington Road to be one-way eastbound from its junction with Lausanne Road.
- Rippingham Road to be one-way westbound.
- Repositioning the trees and street furniture on Rutherford Place to make the space more accessible with room for future events.
No objections were received to the plans, but some people asked if Copson Street could be just for pedestrians. This is not possible because Surcon House needs vehicle access, and there are no alternative accesses.
If you have any questions or comments on the scheme, please email withington.village@manchester.gov.uk
The funds to undertake these public realm improvements are from the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund following a competitive bidding process.