Launched on 10 September 2025 at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, CyanLines is the nature-powered partnership project that aims to connect Greater Manchester’s blue and green spaces into a high quality network of walking, wheeling and cycling routes for residents, for visitors and for nature.

The vision is to develop a network of hundreds of miles of CyanLines routes over ten years, starting with the city centres of Manchester and Salford and then stretching out across Greater Manchester to deliver a greener, healthier and more climate-resilient city for the future.

On Tuesday 08 September CyanLines returns to Aviva Studios, home of Factory International to celebrate its first anniversary and share progress on key milestones, achievements and future ambitions.

Here’s a summary of CyanLines year one activity, progress and achievements:

CyanLines routes

• 100 mile network target – currently at circa 25 miles of routes identified and in development.
• Launched with x4 CyanLines pilot routes:
• CL1: Victoria Station & NOMA to Queens Park – The Irk Valley explorer (approx. 4km/2.5 miles)
• CL2: Mayfield, New Islington & Ancoats Loop – From marina to new city park (approx. 6.3km/3.9 miles)
• CL3: St Peter’s Square to Whitworth Park – Walking the knowledge corridor (approx. 4.6km/2.8 miles)
• CL4: Irwell & Castlefield Loop – Romans, rivers and a park in the sky (approx. 8km/5miles)

• All four routes have been audited for accessibility and CyanLines is bidding for funds to for necessary improvements.
• The four routes have been assessed for sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) and CyanLines is working with United Utilities to develop a project to install nature based solutions on the routes.
• Two new CyanLines routes are in development as well as two grassroots routes that have been created by local communities in Newton Heath and Rusholme.

Other CyanLines projects

• Civic is commissioned to do a technical feasibility study on the potential for a floating walkway on the Irwell in the city centre.
• CyanLines is working with the Medlock Valley Partnership to deliver greater access to the River in the city centre.
• Working with the Canal and River Trust on a major pitch to reinvent Piccadilly Basin.
• From Friday 4 September 2026 CyanLines first pop-up project will be installed in Manchester city centre.

CyanLines Partnerships

• Grown to 24 private and public sector funding partners plus over 80 strategic partners engaged as delivery partners.
• Established a partnership board.
• Establishing a CIC as core organising base.
• Key part of a Manchester-Salford programme called Nature Towns and Cities.
• Partnered with the Norman Foster Institute who are working on design concepts for improvements to the CyanLines routes.

Engagement

• Over 1,000 people have joined in CyanLines public walks, workshops, and events over the past twelve months.
• Staged a series of volunteering days focused on canal clean ups with Canal & Rivers Trust.
• A corporate and public volunteering programme has been developed and launches next month.

At the one year celebration event on Tuesday 08 September, the invited audience, of approximately 600 people, will hear from:

• Bev Craig, mayor of Greater Manchester and co-chair, CyanLines partnership board
• Tom Bloxham CBE MBE Chair Urban Splash and co-chair and co-founder, CyanLines partnership board
• Steve Connor, interim programme director CyanLines
• Pete Swift, co-founder, Planit and co-founder, CyanLines and advisor to CyanLines partnership board
• Tony Juniper, chair, Natural England
• Hilary McGrady, director general, The National Trust,
• Anusha Shah, CyanLines partnership board member and CEO of Plan for Earth
• Hayley Lever, CEO, GM Moving
• Jo Harrison, executive director of strategic planning and sustainability United Utilities and CyanLines partnership board member
• Claire Igoe, associate director of sustainability and estates NHS
• James Long, engagement manage, Canal & River Trust.

As well as representatives from Manchester’s established community projects including Manchester Urban Diggers, PLANT Co-operative CIC and Hulme Community Garden Centre.