The car park that’s not a car park but is 'essential’ for Manchester's 'success' The new arrival has a lot of features (Image: Manchester council ) A multi-storey with car parking opens next month — but the council insists it’s not just a car park and is ‘essential’ for a Manchester success story. The Ancoats Mobility Hub will open on May 6 next to the area’s new park, with space for 406 regular car parking spaces. ‌ Article continues below But the building has more benefits to the uber-hip neighbourhood than just extra parking. It also boasts 102 electric vehicle charging spaces, 150 bicycle storage spots, space for ‘wellbeing activities’, a parcel locker for locals, and a commercial unit in what town hall bosses hope will pave the way for more investment into the city. "The Hub will vastly reduce vehicles in the neighbourhood, taking a people first approach to urban design that provides an opportunity to dedicate more of our city to green public and pedestrian space, rather than space for cars,” council leader Bev Craig told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. ‌ “This is a model that has seen success in some European countries that have pioneered active travel investment and in North America — and we think this is a model that could support cleaner, greener urban investment in the future, including other regeneration programmes across Manchester." (Image: Manchester council ) The town hall is confident the £40m spent on the Hub and neighbouring Ancoats Green Park has allowed 1,500 new homes to be built in the area, and will also decrease pollution nearby as fewer cars navigate its roads. ‌ Coun Craig has even deemed it ‘essential infrastructure’. She added: "We see this as essential infrastructure for the success of this phase of the Ancoats regeneration story, which is reflected in the fact that Homes England — alongside the council — provided significant funding to deliver the Hub, showing the importance of creating the right environment for new homes in the area. (Image: Manchester council ) "Smaller transport hubs are beginning to crop up in places across the UK, but we think towns and cities will be looking at Manchester and the Ancoats Hub to see the art of the possible when it comes to green place making and public realm infrastructure, and how we can create communities that are cleaner, safer and more pleasant for our residents." Article continues below Nearby housing projects include No1 Ancoats Green, from council-owned developer This City, which is set to complete 129 homes by this summer. Nearly a third will be affordable. Others include Manchester Life’s projects for Eliza Yard and Jersey Wharf, set to finish in mid-2026, and its Phoenix Ironworks scheme.