Ancoats Mobility Hub forms central piece of neighbourhood infrastructure

APCOA Parking has opened its Ancoats Mobility Hub in Manchester, one of the UK’s first-of-its-kind mobility hubs, which provides centralised parking, space for car clubs, cycle storage and last mile deliveries for a number of adjacent residential developments, helping to reduce traffic in the area and improving air quality. 

It is part of a major public realm investment in Ancoats, funded largely by Homes England, supporting the principles of a low traffic neighbourhood alongside and integral to the on-going development of Ancoats Green with 1,500 new homes.

Modestly described by APCOA as a next generation multi-storey car park, Ancoats Mobility Hub includes 400 car parking spaces, 100 EV charge points, 150 bike spaces, together with changing facilities, parcel lockers and space for well-being activities.

Designed by Ancoats-based Buttress Architects, the mobility hub’s low carbon construction incorporates 400 photovoltaic panels on its roof and features living green walls which extend the entire height of the eight-storey building. Plants have been selected for their pollution-absorption, urban tolerance and year-round flowering. Each square metre of wall planting should extract 2.3kg of carbon dioxide and produce 1.7kg of oxygen, while also filtering toxins and microparticles.

Associated public realm improvements create new connections with adjoining neighbourhoods, making it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle in the Ancoats area while 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.

Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council 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. 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.”

APCOA Parking is Europe's longest-established full-service parking management company, based in Stuttgart, Germany.