Conservative Party Conference Manchester 2023: Road closures and impact to Metrolink and buses

The Conservative Party Conference 2023 will take place in Manchester next month. The event will be attended by party members and politicians from across the country. 

The event will see disruption on the roads across the city. This is as a result of road closures being put in place before, during and just after the conference. 

The conference will take place in the city from Sunday October 1 to Wednesday October 4. It will be held in Manchester Central and over 11,000 people are expected to attend over the four days. 

Greater Manchester Police will carry out a full operation to ensure the safety of those in attendance at the conference. Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said: “This is a major event for the city and over the last twelve months, our officers have been preparing to welcome the thousands of visitors and delegates coming to enjoy the conference.

“GMP and partners are highly experienced in running the large-scale security operations required to manage events such as this and have hosted the Conservative Party Conference many times over the years to great success. The multi-agency response includes Greater Manchester Police and dedicated partners from Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, Manchester Central Convention Centre, other blue light services, colleagues from other police forces and the military.”

Road closures for Conservative Party Conference 2023

Transport for Greater Manchester have announced that road closures will be phased through the conference 

Phase 1 - From 6pm on Wednesday September 27

• Lower Mosley Street inbound (from Great Bridgewater Street to Windmill Street) except for access to Bishopsgate and Manchester Central NCP car park
• Mount Street (between Windmill Street and Peter Street)
• Windmill Street (between Lower Mosley Street and Watson Street)
• Southmill Street (between Windmill Street and Peter Street)

Phase 2 - From 6.30pm on Thursday September 28

• Peter Street (between Deansgate and Oxford Street)
• Southmill Street (between Windmill Street and Bootle Street)
• Marron Place
• Jerusalem Place
• Watson Street (from the roundabout to Peter Street)
• Access only to: Oxford Street (between Portland Street and Peter Street)
• Access only to: Hall Street and Bale Street

Phase 3 - From 6pm on Saturday September 30

• Lower Mosley Street inbound (from Manchester Central NCP car park and Great Bridgewater Street)
• Trafford Street (Century Street to end – access for Deansgate Locks businesses)

During the conference, several roads in the vicinity of the venue including Peter Street, Lower Mosely Street and Oxford Road (between Whitworth Street and Portland Street) will be closed. Drivers are encouraged to use the Inner Ring Road to avoid road congestion in this area.

Tram disruption

Use of Deansgate-Castlefield on Sunday 1 October

From the start of service on Sunday October 1 until 7pm, tram services will not stop at Deansgate-Castlefield. This is due to security arrangements around the conference. Customers should use St Peter's Square during this time.

Due to the Deansgate-Castlefield closure, services on the Trafford Park line will terminate at Cornbrook. TfGM says to transfer there for onward journeys into the city centre and beyond.

During the conference (1-4 October), there will also be no access to Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop from the side of Manchester Central. You are asked to use the steps/lift on Whitworth Street to access the stop during this time.

Bus disruption

A protest is planned for October 1 and due to the route, a large number of buses will be diverted from All Saints Park via Oxford Road to Castlefield Arena. Bus disruption will be updated through the TfGM/ Bee Network website.