£25m gardens revamp but 'wall' must stay

PICCADILLY Gardens is going to change as part of a £25 million overhaul which is currently being worked on by the council - but one part of it will look very similar after work finishes.

-  ETHAN DAVIES

That's because the concrete pavilion, located opposite the bus station and tram stop, is owned privately by Legal and General's Investment Management firm (LGIM). That means the council doesn't have the power to change - or demolish - it

 However, Legal and General has agreed to shake up the Gardens' most noticeable structure.

Legal & General is very clear about why it doesn't want to knock down the pavilion, which was installed in 2002 when the Gardens got a facelift for the Commonwealth Games in the city.

"Despite what people think about the concrete 'wall, it is already part of the history and heritage of Manchester," a design and access statement in the planning application for the redesign said. "With nearly 10 years of history, resolving the issues of this area is not as simple as demolishing it.