Plans for rooftop swimming pool above Escape to Freight Island ‘under discussion’

Plans to build a city centre swimming pool on an old freight platform overlooking the popular outdoor food court Escape To Freight Island are under discussion, new reports claim today.

According to The Guardian’s North of England editor Helen Pidd, Manchester City Council is currently in talks with developers to transform one of the old freight platforms into the city centre’s first ever rooftop pool.

Pidd tweeted today: “Very exciting Manchester swimming news… This old freight platform, above what is now @freightisland, might become a rooftop swimming pool. Currently under discussion with developers/council. Please, please make this happen @mayfieldmcr @ManCityCouncil.”

A spokesperson for the Mayfield Partnership said on the rumors: “Escape to Freight Island has quickly established itself as Manchester’s most innovative and exciting destination.

“The team at Freight and our partners at Broadwick Live are always looking to develop brilliant new concepts and ideas for this incredible location – including for the area on platforms above Depot Mayfield.

“Among these plans an idea was floated some time ago for an outdoor swimming pool – but this is at a very early stage, and may yet prove to be impractical. Our core focus is on the delivery of Mayfield Park, which is due to open in 2022, delivering 6.5 acres of verdant green space for all to enjoy.”

This comes just one week after it was announced that Escape to Freight Island will be gaining a boutique ‘ice skating rink in the sky‘ as a part of its Winter Market celebrations throughout the festive period. 

@escapetofreightisland / Instagram

In a first for the open-air food hall, the festive ice rink will be built and positioned underneath the striking industrial roof of Depot Mayfield on the new worlds-first ‘concretene’ mezzanine.

And that isn’t all the team over at Freight Island have to offer for the build up to Christmas; there’s a huge programme of festive events booked over the next couple of months, including Christmas workshops, karaoke, family raves, cabaret, live music, comedy and festive movie nights.

For more information, head over to the Escape to Freight Island website.

Manchester City Council has been contacted for comment.