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New York-style attraction in UK with 150-metre high gardens reveals huge £2.7m revamp that will make it even bigger
A POPULAR UK tourist attraction inspired by a New York City landmark is set to undergo a major revamp.
The ambitious project will see the Manchester “sky park” transformed with a £2.7 million renovation.
Castlefield Viaduct was first constructed as a railway in 1893 and was used for transport in and out of the Great Northern Warehouse until 1954.
The steel structure remained derelict until 2022, when plans saw a third of the 330 metre-long track converted into a “sky garden“.
This revamp bears a resemeblance to New York City’s High Line, which has seen an abandoned overground subway track converted into a public space and gardens along the west side of the city.
Sky garden
Now, plans for the Manchester based attraction could increase the scale of the viaduct experience from 150 metres to the full 330 metre length of the structure.
This would even include a walkway over to Pomona Island, offering stunning views of the city.
In 2023, plans were revealed for the future of viaduct, which could see an extension to the Victorian structure.
Funding
And now a significant proportion of the funding needed for the next phase of the project has been secured.
The National Trust revealed a long-term future vision for the Castlefield Viaduct “sky park”, including several entry and exit points as well as a walkway giving access towards Salford and Trafford.
National Highway’s Historical Railways Estate Team is working in partnership with the conservation charity.
It has committed £2.4 million to fund a significant part of the structural and foundation work for Phase 2 of the project.
And a further £100,000 will be funded by Manchester City Council.
Another £100,000 has been pledged by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and a grant of £150,000 is also being given to the project from the Railway Heritage Trust.
Masterplan
The Castlefield Viaduct masterplan, termed the “Vision”, is a direct response to public feedback from viaduct visitors and the local community.
Both tourists and locals took part in a series of workshops, events, and an online survey in autumn 2023 to determine ways to improve the viaduct.
As well as an extension of the structure, designs also feature more places to sit, relax, and take in the views of the city.
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There will also be pop-up spaces for community activities and events and winding paths through planted areas.
Plus, the installation of stair and lift access to Egerton Street.
In the Vision, seven “character” areas have been identified as part of the future viaduct, plus the Gold medal-winning WaterAid Garden from this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
This has previously been compared to Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.
And a new welcome area called the Castlefield Platform, a green and playful area called the Global Garden, and the Village Hub which provides an area for community growing will also feature.
The midway point on the viaduct would become the Strawberry Garden, while designs for the latter half of the viaduct take advantage of the open-air views.
The Cottonopolis area takes inspiration from Manchester’s industrial past, before the Pomona Walk leads visitors through treetops and on towards Pomona Island.
Members of the public and local community have shown strong support for the viaduct, wanting the Grade II listed structure to remain open as an accessible green space for people and nature.
With planning approved by Manchester City Council in April 2025, the structural work for Phase 2 of the viaduct is expected to start in the autumn, with the new section expected to open in summer 2026.
The viaduct remains open to members of the public, with opening hours being Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm.
Advance booking for the viaduct has now been completely removed, allowing visitors to explore at their own leisure.
Find out more about Castlefield Viaduct and view the future Vision for the green space and its extension here.
