The Grade II listed[1] viaduct was designed by Heenan & Froude, the same engineering company behind Blackpool Tower.

[2] The viaduct is part of the Historical Railways Estate and since 2022 approximately a third of its length is a sky park.

Plans by the National Trust to turn the viaduct into a sky park were unveiled in June 2021,[3][4] with the work starting in March 2022.

[6] In July 2023, the National Trust was granted an extension by Manchester City Council to keep the sky park open until winter 2024.

[7] In September 2024, details were unveiled to expand the sky park from the current 120 m (390 ft) to its full length.