Plans to demolish part of the much-hated 'Berlin Wall' in Piccadilly Gardens have been approved.
Manchester council submitted a planning application for the removal of the small, curved section of the wall that it owns and separates the gardens from the bus station on Parker Street last month.
Leaders say it will be the first stage in a major overhaul of the city centre's largest public square.
Around £2milllion of council cash has been allocated for the demolition work as well as carrying out surveys, design work, and a public consultation on how to improve Piccadilly Gardens after many years of complaints about crime and anti-social behaviour.
The budget for the full revamp has not yet been finalised, but it is understood it will be significantly higher, in the region of £10m.
The transformation took a step forward last night when the planning application to demolish the free-standing element of the wall was approved.
No date has yet been fixed on when the work will be carried out but the council's city centre spokesperson Cllr Pat Karney said he hopes it will be 'in the next few weeks'.
The work may have an impact on the adjacent tram stop but it is not anticipated to cause major disruption.
"We've waited for this for over a decade," said Cllr Karney.
"It's a symbol of the renewal of Piccadilly Gardens, it's the first step but there's a lot more to come."
In its application, the council had argued that demolition of the free-standing section of wall was necessary to address issues with crime and anti-social behaviour in the short term, as well as send out a signal that the council is 'committed' to the larger project.
The wall has become notorious as a hotspot for drug-dealing and large groups to congregate, and has often been the scene of violent incidents.
Officials said that removing the wall will improve 'sight lines' in the Gardens, making it easier for police to monitor the area and discourage criminal behaviour.
The larger part of the structure, leased by Cafe Nero and Tampopo and known officially as the 'Pavilion', is owned by pension fund Legal & General and will stay - for now.
However, it is understood its future is by no means certain either and it could also come down in the long term.
Jon-Connor Lyons, Labour councillor for the Piccadilly ward, is among those to have campaigned for the project.
He added: "I'm thrilled planning permission was granted without a problem.
"People have complained for years and I'm glad we've been able to address those concerns by finally getting planning permission to tear down that wall.
"The place needs drastic change and we need to get that change right!"
The M.E.N has twice campaigned for an overhaul of Piccadilly Gardens following a disastrous redesign in 2002 for the Commonwealth Games.
This saw the sunken flowerbeds removed and replaced with grass turf that continually turns into a mudbath and fountains that have repeatedly broken down and cost thousands of pounds to fix.
The brutalist, concrete slab was designed Japanese artist Tadao Ando as a pavilion to shield the Gardens from the city’s central bus and tram terminus.
But it has never been welcomed by Mancunians and has been the topic of much frustration ever since.
Speaking about the latest plans earlier this year, town hall leader Sir Richard Leese said: "This is a key step in the transformation of Piccadilly Gardens.
"We have been listening to people’s views about the area and we are determined, working with principal landlords, businesses, residents and property owners in the nearby area, to support changes to make it a thriving and welcoming place.
"We know we have got to start investing in the area now to deliver a space which meets the aspirations of Manchester people.
"The fact that we are planning to commit so much funding to the first phase of the scheme alone hopefully underlines the extent of our commitment."
