• Courtroom refurbishment to deliver essential improvements
• New funding will modernise facilities and reduce delays at Crown Square Crown Court
• Part of nationwide £148.5m maintenance programme to tackle neglected court estate

Victims’ experience of the justice system across Manchester will improve thanks to targeted funding to upgrade court facilities.

The project will upgrade Courtrooms 3 and 5 at Manchester’s Crown Square Crown Court with modern seating, improved climate control, enhanced lighting, and redesigned spaces, creating a more dignified and accessible environment for victims.

Upon completion, the projects will help address long-standing maintenance issues, reduce delays caused by poor infrastructure, and improve working conditions across courts.

The funding is part of £148.5 million being spent this financial year to improve conditions, modernise, and repair the court estate. This will speed up justice by reducing the number of court rooms out of action while improving conditions for all users of the courts.

Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC, said:

“Victims deserve swift justice, and delays are unacceptable. Our investment in Manchester Crown Court delivers modern, resilient, and accessible facilities, speeding up the delivery of justice and improving conditions for those who use them.

“We are committed to restoring public confidence in the justice system by tackling the backlog, rebuilding our courts, and ensuring swift access to justice.”

Jeff Smith MP said:

“People in Manchester Withington want to know that when they turn to the justice system, it will be fair, accessible and efficient. These long-overdue upgrades to our local court facilities will make a real difference – not just in cutting delays, but in treating victims and witnesses with the respect they deserve. It’s one step in the wider work this Labour Government is doing to rebuild confidence in our justice system.”

While this infrastructure improvement is important, addressing the courts backlog requires broader system reform.

That is why the Lord Chancellor has commissioned an Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, led by Sir Brian Leveson, which is exploring options for longer-term reform to reduce the backlog and restore public confidence in the justice system.

The Government has also increased funding for Crown Courts to sit a record 110,000 days this financial year – 4,000 more than originally set the previous year, ensuring more hearings can take place and helping victims see justice more quickly. The works at Manchester are due to be completed by Winter 2026/2027.