Could Manchester be about to get its own linear park to match New York's celebrated High Line?

The 1.45-mile High Line — created on railway viaducts on Manhattan's west side — has been celebrated as a regeneration tool. Now Manchester City Council has considered creating a similar linear park linking the new neighbourhoods on the city centre's northern fringe.

The idea could be coming to Manchester, to link NOMA and Victoria Station to the city centre's northern fringes.

Far East Consortium and the city council are behind plans for 15,000 new homes in the 350-acre Northern Gateway zone stretching across New Cross, NOMA, Ancoats and Clayton; Cheetham; Harpurhey; Miles Platting and Newton Heath.

A £1B masterplan is now being drawn up which will use the river valley and railway bridges to create a linked park of up to 3 miles.

A report to councillors said: "The proximity of these neighbourhoods to the city centre together with the opportunities for off-road routes provided by the River Irk Corridor, highlight the potential to introduce a number of key interventions that can be delivered as part of the masterplan to encourage a high proportion of journeys to be made by walking, cycling and public transport."

"The River Valley provides a unique opportunity for the development of a linear City River Park and green routes connecting from NOMA and Angel Meadow on the edge of the City Centre through to Queen’s Park to the north (and ultimately onwards towards Heaton Park), with links running through Sandhills to Collyhurst Village Park."

The report adds that "existing railway viaducts and other heritage assets" will be involved.

Earlier this year architects Sheppard Robson predicted a surge in Manchester park development as the city attempts to re-green. Plans for the Great Northern leisure scheme and the Deansgate Ramada complex hinge on new planting and open space.