Manchester reveals plans to ease city out of lockdown

Manchester City Council and local property companies have outlined plans to help businesses reopen after months of government-enforced lockdown. The council is working on initiatives to help businesses operate under remaining restrictions when they reopen, with a focus on hospitality sites across the city. One project is examining whether public space, including footpaths and highways, can be used to give a greater square footage to businesses that can operate outside – such as setting up beer gardens and restaurant space. Pat Karney, the council’s city centre chief, said  “hospitality recovery is going to be led by outdoor usage”. “We’ll look at places like the Northern Quarter, the Gay Village and Deansgate if people want to use more of the pavement and the road,” he added. Additional footway space in the city centre and business districts is being established. Footways will be widened using Rhino barriers or cones. Some bus stops will be relocated and parking bays suspended. Thomas Street, in the Northern Quarter, has been pedestrianised, and areas in Deansgate between King Street West and Blackfriars Street have been partially closed to free up space for events and markets. Property companies have also outlined plans to help the city’s key areas reopen for business. Capital & Centric co-founder Tim Heatley said security will be put in place around food, drink and office space to help the public adhere to social distancing rules. “There will need to be clarity, especially if people are vulnerable or elderly,” Heatley said. “[Security] will be there to provide that extra bit of support.” He added that local authorities in the Greater Manchester area, as well as GMCA, have been helpful for property companies, giving them “a voice” in plotting their way out of lockdown. Property Alliance Group managing director Alex Russell said health and safety measures have been put in place in all its buildings, including extra cleaning shifts, signage outlining social distancing measures and hand sanitiser stations. “The biggest thing is speaking to our tenants to hear what their thoughts are, when they want to come back and make sure that when they do, we are prepared and we can help them,” he said. To send feedback, e-mail lucy.alderson@egi.co.uk or tweet @LucyAJourno or @estatesgazette