Work on the £525m restoration of Manchester Town Hall is now entering its final phase, with scaffolding beginning to be dismantled and internal fittings being reinstalled as the project heads towards a planned completion in spring 2027.
Visible progress on exterior and inside the building
The Grade I-listed Town Hall, which has been closed since 2018, has seen large sections of its external works finished. Contractors have replaced more than 160,000 slate tiles on the roof, with replacement material sourced from the same Cumbria quarries as the original slates.
Inside the building much of the conservation and reinstatement work has been carried out. The council’s recent update notes the installation of the first set of heritage chandeliers and that radiator installation has started on level seven. The restored organ in the Great Hall has begun to be reinstated and the visitor experience fit-out is said to be progressing well.
"The installation of the first set of heritage chandeliers has been completed, and radiator installation has commenced on level seven and the last slate has been fitted to the roof."
Project managers have increased site operatives and workfaces to accelerate completion rates, and the first rooms have been inspected for completion, the report states.
Remaining work and next steps
Despite the visible progress, several significant jobs remain. The council warns that state rooms including the Great Hall still require attention, along with the installation of new lifts, mosaic restoration work and completion of the kitchen. Once the physical restoration concludes, a period of testing and final fit-outs is expected to take a further few weeks before the building can be reopened to the public.
The restoration works are being carried out within the project budget, which the council reports as £524.8m.
- Town Hall closed since: 2018
- Planned completion: Spring 2027 (forecast remains unchanged)
- Budget reported as: £524.8m
- Roof slates replaced: 160,000+ (sourced from Cumbria)
Public spaces and civic life
Work to the building’s façade has progressed to the point that the clock tower was visible during the recent Manchester Day celebrations, and the fencing around Albert Square was removed in April when the public space in front of the Town Hall reopened. The process of removing scaffolding is underway across multiple elevations, with the first full removal completed on part of Lloyd Street.
For residents and visitors this means the familiar skyline and civic heart of the city are gradually being restored, though the council’s update makes clear that the Town Hall will not be immediately open on completion — the final weeks will be needed for commissioning, testing and to fit out the visitor areas.
| Workstream | Current status |
|---|---|
| Roof slating | Complete (last slate fitted) |
| Exterior scaffolding | Being dismantled (partial removals complete) |
| Heritage fittings (chandeliers) | Installed |
| Organ reinstatement | Underway |
| State rooms, lifts, mosaics, kitchen | Remaining work |
As the schedule currently stands the project team is planning for completion in spring 2027 and the forecast is reported to be in line with this date. When the Town Hall does reopen it will mark the end of an eight-year absence from public life for one of Manchester’s most recognisable civic buildings.
Further council updates are expected as dismantling of the scaffolding continues and final commissioning work gets under way.
