Warden delivers new community square in Gorton town centre

Warden has completed work on a project that’s helped to deliver a new public square in Gorton town centre in Manchester.

We were appointed by Manchester City Council to transform an underused car park between Gorton Market and Tesco into a new flexible space, designed to improve connectivity through the town, encourage footfall, and host events.

The design of the square was shaped through consultation with residents and community groups, focusing on enhancing the space with new public realm features and upgraded infrastructure.

Works included the installation of interactive play features, light projections, and a nature area with new planters and trees, as well as improved pedestrian and cycling routes to ensure safer, more accessible movement through the area.

Approximately 1,900 square metres of the area was resurfaced with footpaths and a new access road and additional infrastructure has been installed, with new lighting, signage, and street furniture to enhance the square’s usability.

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden, said: “We are incredibly proud to have played our role in bringing this vibrant new public square to life for the people of Gorton.

“Seeing this underused space transformed into a welcoming heart for the community, one that complements the existing market and offers opportunities for connection and enjoyment for all ages, is truly rewarding. We believe this thoughtfully designed square will be a cornerstone of Gorton’s ongoing regeneration, and we look forward to seeing it thrive.”

Bev Craig, Leader of the Council, adds: “We are investing in our local communities across the city because we know how important Manchester’s high streets are to the people they serve. This isn’t just about accessing services easily; this is also about creating pride in our local spaces and neighbourhoods our residents want to live in.

“We know that Manchester people want to live in welcoming, clean and green communities that support businesses, create jobs and provide opportunities for new affordable housing.

“This is what we’re doing in Gorton, and we have our sights set on other district centres, for future investment that will continue our ongoing commitment to investing in the things our local communities want and need.”

We worked in partnership with Manchester City Council and local stakeholders, and alongside Halliday Meecham Architects and DEP landscape architects on the design of the square and helped secure the required planning approvals

As part of our commitment to social value, a series of community-focused initiatives have been delivered to support residents and leave a lasting legacy in Gorton.

The team visited St James’ Primary School, delivering two engaging sessions that introduced pupils to the built environment and the many career opportunities within construction. The aim was to inspire the next generation to see construction as an exciting, inclusive, and meaningful industry.

“The lesson was perfectly pitched and married up with our story and builders topic brilliantly. The Lego session was lovely, so engaging and made the links of building so well.

“It was just wonderful for the children to see you and the safety equipment and the illustrations of the new Gorton build.”

– Teacher, St James’ Primary School.

In addition, we engaged with young people not currently in education, employment or training (NEETs) at the Gorton Hub Job Centre, offering advice and guidance on how to access opportunities within the construction industry.

To further support the local community, we donated materials and equipment to the Men’s Sheds group based at Gorton Monastery, helping them progress with their latest project promoting wellbeing and social connection.

Further investment is planned for the area later this year, as part of the wider regeneration vision for Gorton, including the development of new affordable homes that will overlook the newly improved public square.

We recently worked with Manchester City Council on the delivery of a new eco-style modular café building, occupied by Grounded MCR, in Cringle Park, Levenshulme.