St Peter's Square Metrolink Station - History

History

See also: History of Manchester Metrolink

Plans for a rapid transit station in St Peter's Square were made in the 1970s; proposals for the abandoned Picc-Vic tunnel envisaged the construction of an underground station to serve both St Peter's and the neighbouring Albert Square. The early proposals for an on-street light rail system in Manchester revived the idea of a station in the square, and the idea was retained as the project evolved, becoming a reality when the Metrolink system opened in 1992.

The station was demolished and rebuilt with a full length platform and improved passenger facilities in November 2009.

Elisabeth House occupied the side of the square opposite the library (between Dickinson Street and Oxford Street) from the 1970s until 2011 when it was demolished for redevelopment. Plans prepared by architects were entered in a competition which was modified in 2011 to incorporate Metrolink proposals; in March 2012 a shortlist of two submissions was made. The site will be used for a grade A office building for companies such as KPMG in 2014.

As part of the second city crossing prosposals, the stop will be moved slightly north towards Princess Street, and transformed into a four-platform interchange. The cenotaph will be relocated and the entire square redeveloped into a new public space. There is a major international competition to design this development.

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