City sky park could extend along unused viaduct

The £1.8m viaduct project first opened to the public in 2022

Plans to extend a plant-filled sky park along an overgrown and unused section of a city's Victorian viaduct have been revealed.

The National Trust wants to extend its garden project along the Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester after the public backed the proposal in a survey.

Thousands of plants were bedded in the 125-year-old railway structure in 2022 as part of a pilot project by the charity.

Project manager Nichola Jacques said the extension was aimed at creating " a bigger, bolder and more beneficial green space".

The conservation charity has turned its attention to the untouched section of the viaduct.

Proposals could see the park, which will remain open this year, extended to give visitors access to the full 330m length of the viaduct.

The National Trust will submit a planning application later this year and, if approved, it aims to start work on the extension by 2025.

Currently the project ends midway along the listed Manchester landmark, with the unused section left overgrown with weeds.

New exit and entry points, along with a new walkway to give people access in the directions of Pomona, Salford and Trafford have also been proposed, alongside new community growing areas, and spaces for pop-up events.

Ms Jacques said the charity's phase two plans for the viaduct "won’t happen without big investment" though, and urged potential investors to come forward.