Plans to build the Mobility Hub in Manchester’s Ancoats have moved a step closer after being formally submitted to the city council.
The proposals for the Mobility Hub seek to future-proof Ancoats by embedding green transport choices, smart logistics, and shared services into the heart of an emerging and sustainable neighbourhood.
Designed for Manchester Life Development Company, this innovative project proposes to meet the parking requirements of residential and commercial development in Ancoats, removing standard parking from individual schemes to promote a shift away from car ownership in response to the community’s desire to prioritise people over vehicles in the local area.
Included in the plans are electric car spaces, secure cycle spaces, showers, and an electric car-sharing club, giving residents greener transport options. This will accelerate the move away from petrol and diesel vehicles, improve air quality and protect the environment. By bringing together parking in one place the Hub will also ensure future developments are car-park free, urban designers can then focus on creating places for people to relax and enjoy.
To limit the number of delivery vehicles to a specific area, a delivery depot will also be housed within the site to receive local deliveries and parcels, and to reduce the travel of delivery vehicles through the neighbourhood by 1200km a day.
At ground floor level, there is potential for a large community café that will activate the street frontage and knit the development into the neighbourhood.
This café will face onto a significant area of new public realm, which will be developed with pedestrian and cycle access, seating areas, plating and paving and opportunities for outdoor café dining. This area of public realm will also provide a new cycle and pedestrian route that will connect through to an adjacent park.
Commenting on the plans, Associate Director, Matthew Burl, said: “This scheme will play a critical role in helping the city advance towards achieving clean air and climate change priorities, by offering sustainable and shared mobility choices as well as facilities that will benefit the community as a whole.”
