Manchester Victoria North East Gateway: All about people and community

Victoria North East Gateway is a package of road, cycle and walking route enhancements that improve access to Manchester city centre, public transport and provide connections to walking and cycling schemes in other parts of the city.

Octavius is Manchester City Council’s, Principal contractor for the project, which marks the company’s first win on the Manchester City Council Highways Construction Works Framework. The scheme is among the larger infrastructure elements of Manchester’s Bee Network, Mayor Andy Burnhmam’s programme to provide the city with a world class, joined up transport network under local control.

Construction work of this nature is all about people and community. The scope is solid public realm civils:

• Reconfigure four routes
• New footways and traffic islands
• New controlled pedestrian crossings
• New CYCLOPS (Cycle Optimised Protected Signals) cycle and pedestrian junctions
• New segregated cycleways
• Relocated bus stops

What makes it really challenging is delivering all this at multiple locations on busy city streets, in a way that allows businesses and residents to go about their daily routines with as little disruption as possible; and also to try and enrich the communities in which the work is being undertaken – creating a legacy beyond enhanced transport infrastructure.

Multi-agency collaboration

The reconfiguration work runs across four locations – Rochdale Road, Oldham Road, Thompson Street, Old Mill Street – all are main thoroughfares in and out of the city centre. In addition they host a thriving mix of homes and businesses; and are the site of several live commercial and residential property developments. Some work is in a conservation area and one of the sites is also home to the Manchester Central Community Fire Station. So the list of stakeholders and agencies whose needs have to be taken into account is long and varied.

On Oldham Road, for example, the main challenge was maintaining access for businesses and residents during essential night-time closures. By working closely with Manchester City Council and Octavius’ traffic management teams, the team implemented flexible access solutions – including stationing operatives at key points to guide vehicles and ensure residents could reach their properties. This proactive approach helped reduce disruption and built confidence that Octavius was listening and responding to concerns. While the timelines shifted due to unforeseen utilities and design changes, consistent engagement helped maintain constructive dialogue with even the most challenging stakeholders.

On Thompson Street, by addressing concerns directly and working collaboratively with stakeholders such as Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and community support organisation Turning Point, the team was able to minimise disruption, maintain essential services, and build trust during a complex and disruptive programme. The approach highlighted the value of clear communication, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt, ensuring that key partners felt heard and supported throughout delivery. Regular communication, including direct updates and site walk-throughs, allowed Octavius to demonstrate transparency and collaboration. 

Ensuring social value

Octavius has a designated Social Value Team whose sole purpose is to work across all areas of the business, embedding a social value culture and enabling its creation. During the Victoria North East Gateway project, the team’s contribution to the community included:

• Prioritising direct local employees
• Supporting school and college events
• Working collaboratively with charitable partner Mustard Tree to:
  • Support unemployed people into work
  • Provide a meaningful work placement paying the Real Living wage
  • Invested £200 in initiatives to tackle homelessness
  • Provided volunteers
• Invested £2,000 to refurbish and donate laptops and smartphones to those in need as part of the Manchester City Council digital inclusion initiative.
• Volunteered time and money for MCR Active health and wellbeing initiatives
• Provided donations in kind to Manchester Seed Library initiative
• Provided cash donation to support Read MCR ‘See myself in books’ festival in partnership with the National Literacy Trust

The approach employed during the Victoria North East Gateway typifies the way in which Octavius puts people at the heart of the project. For a local authority project, this is where the contractor proves their worth; working cheek by jowl with the most important people in the client’s life – the communities they serve.