One of the UK’s first-of-its-kind mobility hubs is now welcoming interest to reserve cycle spaces and car parking as the countdown to opening begins.
Open to the public from Tuesday 6 May, the Ancoats Mobility Hub is a key element of the latest phase of investment in the area – the final chapter of two decades of regeneration in this neighbourhood.
This is part of over £40 million investment in Ancoats, funded largely by Homes England, supporting the principles of a low traffic neighbourhood alongside new public realm that will connect with and complement the soon-to-be completed refurbishment of Ancoats Green next door.
This investment has helped to unlock 1,500 new homes in its locale, centralising parking, cycle storage and last mile deliveries for a number of adjacent residential developments in the innovative mobility hub, while helping to reduce vehicles in the local area to improve air quality for residents and visitors.
The low carbon construction incorporates hundreds of photovoltaic panels on its roof and living green walls, making the building one of the most environmentally friendly in the city – supporting Manchester’s target to become a zero carbon city by 2038 –
The green wall scales the entire height of the eight storey building, with plants carefully chosen for their pollution-absorption, urban tolerance and year-round flowering. Just one square metre of wall planting can extract 2.3kg of carbon dioxide and produce 1.7kg of oxygen, while also filtering dangerous toxins and microparticles.
The Ancoats Mobility Hub in numbers
- 150 secure bike parking spaces and changing facilities
- 102 electric vehicle charging points, with potential for more – one of the largest charging parks in the UK
- Spaces for car club/car share schemes
- 406 car parking spaces for residents and visitors
- Over 400sqm of green wall
- 400 rooftop solar panels
- Ground floor space for new wellbeing activities.
- Over 1300sqm of new public realm, connected to Ancoats Green and the nearby canal and New Islington
- Parcel locker hub to centralise how local people can receive post and packages, helping to reduce delivery traffic in the area
- A commercial unit is currently in the process of being marketed
The public realm investment will also create new connections with adjoining neighbourhoods, making it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle in the Ancoats area connecting through to Miles Platting and New Islington – which will also link up with other active travel schemes and the wider Greater Manchester Bee Network.
The Ancoats Mobility Hub was designed by Buttress Architects.
You can now reserve your bicycle space
And you can now reserve your car parking space
Find out more about the wider regeneration of Ancoats, including Ancoats Green, No1 Ancoats Green (a housing development by the Council’s This City housing company), and new residential developments by Manchester Life.
Leader of the Council Bev Craig said:
“The Ancoats Mobility Hub is a central piece of neighbourhood infrastructure that will help to put people at the heart of this community, rather than car traffic.
“This is part of over £40m investment in the area’s public realm, which will also unlock1,500 new homes of different types, new walking and cycling routes, and complements beautifully the investment that we are soon to complete at the newly refurbished Ancoats Green.
“Rather than being a car park or cycle store, last mile delivery hub and new commercial space, this development is a blueprint for how we can create cleaner, greener communities – with few cars and more space for people to enjoy their space in a more peaceful, safer setting.”
Kim Challis, APCOA Regional Managing Director UK&I commented:
“We are proud to manage this prestigious site in partnership with Manchester City Council. Our proven track record with the design and build of APCOA Urban Hubs in Carmarthenshire, Manchester and Sheffield strengthened our offering, and we are delighted that the outstanding sustainability credentials of the new Ancoats Hub align closely with our own commitment to the environment. We look forward to being an integral part of this unique investment and to collaborating with the Council to incorporate feedback from residents and businesses as the hub becomes an essential part of local life.”
Max Wilson, Spokesafe’s founder said:
“We’re delighted to manage the cycle parking facility within Ancoats Mobility Hub. Best-in-class cycle parking should be as simple to book and access as a train or a plane – and any cyclist can book their rack at Ancoats instantly via the Spokesafe app. This facility is set to be a landmark one for both Manchester & the UK as a whole, and we’re excited to play our part in helping the local community travel by bike more often.”
Pauline Schaffer, Director of Infrastructure Funding at Homes England, said:
“The new Ancoats Mobility Hub is an excellent example of how funding from Homes England is helping to create vital infrastructure to support thriving places people can be proud of.
“It’s great to see the Hub setting the tone for a sustainable neighbourhood with a design centred around residents’ needs. The new Hub provides supporting infrastructure to enable sites like Eliza Yard, Jersey Wharf, Phoenix Ironworks and No1 Ancoats Green to begin development, supplying the local area with much needed new homes.”
