Part of the hated 'Berlin Wall' in Piccadilly Gardens WILL be demolished it has been confirmed - and it is hoped the rest will follow, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.

After years of promises and false starts, Manchester council's executive committee will be asked to sign off almost £2m of funding towards improvements of the Gardens next week.

The council said this will fund 'a number of early improvements to improve the area’s appearance and people’s experience of it'.

And top of the list will be demolishing the smaller, free-standing element of the concrete wall that splits the bus station from the grass turf which is owned by the council.

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.

It is understood its future is by no means certain either and it could also come down.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

Earlier this year, council leaders confirmed architects had been appointed to draw up plans for a long-awaited overhaul of Piccadilly Gardens.

A number of possible options for a full redesign are expected to be made public in the spring.

For now, the council is asking for £1.8m towards costs including 'concept design, survey and other preparatory work and gauging public feedback on outline plans', as well as the demolition of the free-standing part of the concrete wall.

The budget for the full revamp of the Gardens has not yet been finalised, but it is understood it will be significantly higher, in the region of £10m.

The council says it will be 'working with principal property owners and other interested parties to develop a joint fund to enable the scheme to be brought forwards' adding: "This will include a significant further council contribution."

City centre spokesperson Pat Karney and Piccadilly ward councillor Jon-Connor Lyonns hailed the decision as a 'historical' breakthrough.

"It's been a great campaign," said Coun Lyons.

(Image: Supplied)

"We needed something done with the wall, I'm glad we've finally got a resolution.

"This is the start of a historical makeover for the Gardens."

Coun Karney added: "These two Berlin Walls have blighted Piccadilly for over a decade.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

"Congratulations to Coun Jon-Connor Lyons and the campaign to get this monstrosity torn down."

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 instead become a magnet for crime and anti-social behaviour.

Town hall leader Sir Richard Leese said: "This is a key step in the transformation of Piccadilly Gardens.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

"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."

Landscape architect LDA Design (Manchester) has been appointed to produce concept designs for improvements in Piccadilly Gardens and its surrounds.