BDP - Mixed-Use Development - Manchester, Piccadilly Station redevelopment

Date: 10 Dec 2003

Manchester’s Piccadilly Station redevelopment, designed by BDP, has added to its growing tally of awards by winning the British Council of Shopping Centres 'Special Award' at their 2003 annual awards ceremony on 3 December (2003).

BCSC Shopping Centre Awards are the leading accolades within the shopping centre and retail property sector. They reward excellence for improvements to the quality of the built environment. This is the 18th year that BCSC, which represents more than 1,400 retailers, developers, landlords, agents, architects, local authority representatives and industry executives, has presented the awards and only the second time the Awards Panel has chosen to make a Special Award.

The Panel noted of the scheme: “Piccadilly Station, Manchester has been given a special award as a superb example of a project that successfully uses retail to regenerate one of the UK’s major railway stations. The clever disposition of new retail units at ground level, together with the new catering at first floor level, successfully accommodates travellers in a hurry and those with more time at their disposal. The new concourse has a light and airy feel under its inflated “pillow” roof and has excellent links with the station platforms and the external environment in Piccadilly.”

The brief to BDP was to give the station a 21st century image, improve visibility and links with the city and to improve circulation for passengers, and access for pedestrians and vehicles. To achieve this, a new larger concourse with a 7,000 square metre footprint has been constructed on two levels. Modern engineering techniques were used to support the new monopitch roof which makes extensive use of ETFE translucent panels to maximise the daylight provision to the passenger areas.

The development of the retail element se of Piccadilly Station had to contend with a number of aspects that are unique to this station. Up to 50,000 passengers per day pass through the station and of those up to 60% use two platforms which are remote from the main concourse. The dwell time in the station was analysed and found to average only 13 minutes. The analysis also determined that three types of offer would be appropriate. ‘Grab and go type retail would be concentrated at concourse level where the primary commuter route platforms are located away from the congested areas. Here 2,000 square metres of retail space is provided within 23 shop units arranged along a curved mall and also adjacent to the concourse. Special consideration of the catering retail offer was also required. It was decided to provide a limited ‘fast food’ offer at the main concourse level and concentrate on providing quality bistro outlets at the upper concourse level where passengers could relax within sight of their train and with views out over the City.

The new station contains a total of 27 retail units and space for up to six mobile retail units.

Peter Coleman, BDP director of Retail and Regeneration said "The Judges felt in awarding Piccadilly Station their Special Award that the entrance concourse takes a significant step forward in station retail facilities and is an exemplary project for the many other station opportunities".

Manchester’s Piccadilly Station redevelopment

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