Revised Plans for Mayfield’s Initial Commercial Development Phase in Manchester Highlight Sustainability, Including a Large Cycling Hub and Expanded Green Spaces

The Mayfield neighbourhood in Manchester had its first phase of commercial development approved in February 2020, which included Mayfield Park, two office buildings, and a sizable multi-storey car park.

The Mayfield Partnership has now revealed revised plans that emphasize a more sustainable initial phase of commercial development.

The updated plans for the first three new buildings at Mayfield take into account significant changes in attitudes towards work, wellness, and nature since the pandemic. They align with Manchester’s goal of becoming a Net Zero city by 2038, propose one of Manchester’s largest cycling hubs, and plan for a significant extension to Mayfield Park.

The plans include 320,000 sq ft of office space spread across two new buildings – The Poulton, designed by Bennetts Associates, and The Republic, designed by Morris+Company. These buildings aim to limit CO2 emissions to 600kg per m2, making them some of the most sustainable new office buildings in the city.

An additional three acres of public spaces will expand Mayfield Park to the surrounding buildings, introducing new landscaped areas, more tree planting, ecology, and rain gardens.

The new buildings are aiming for a 5.5-Star rating under the NABERS system.

The proposed multi-storey car park, designed by Studio Egret West, is set to undergo the most significant change. It will be transformed into a multi-purpose building, featuring one of the city’s largest single-site bicycle parking facilities for over 400 bicycles. The building will also include attractive brick arches that reflect the historic railway arches at Mayfield Depot, along with ground-floor cafes, bars, restaurants, and event spaces.

These three buildings were initially granted unanimous planning consent in 2020 by the Manchester City Council’s Planning Committee. Since then, the bold decision to prioritize the park’s development has resulted in the creation of the 6.5-acre Mayfield Park, which opened in September 2022. The park spans the uncovered and cleaned River Medlock and features 140 mature trees and tens of thousands of plants and shrubs. The transport hub will have fewer car parking spaces but more electric vehicle charging points. Over 500 sq m of PV panels on the structure will further enhance Mayfield’s sustainability. As the city’s transportation habits change, the transport hub is designed to increase EV charging provision to 50 per cent, add more bicycle parking, or adapt to a completely different use in the future.

The Mayfield Partnership, a pioneering public-private venture consisting of LandsecU+I (Landsec’s regeneration arm), Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, and placemaking and regeneration specialist LCR, has put forward these plans.

Subject to planning consent, work on the first phase of Mayfield is set to begin later this year (2023).

Laura Percy, development director at LandsecU+I, stated: “Our revised proposals for a cleaner, greener, and future-focused first phase of Mayfield reflect the significant changes we’ve seen in recent years in how we work, travel, and the increased importance we place on wellness and nature.

“Mayfield has already contributed a beautiful new public park in the heart of Manchester. We believe Mayfield has the right mix to enhance the quality of life for current visitors and future generations.

“Establishing one of the city’s largest cycle parks and designing the flexibility to repurpose the car park for a range of different uses are just some of the ways we’re approaching Mayfield with a sustainable future in mind.

The first phase of Mayfield, costing £400m, is being funded by Landsec.