First phase of £1.4bn development set to get green light

One of the biggest property schemes in Manchester looks set to get the go-ahead next week.

The first two phases of the £1.4bn Mayfield scheme are to go before planners next week.

And officials at Manchester city council are recommending that the scheme – which will include Manchester’s first new park in a century – should be approved.

If planning permission is granted work is expected to start in the autumn.

The scheme is one of the largest in Manchester and is set to transform a derelict and rundown area close to Piccadilly train station.

The developers have been keen to open up the site to the public and have held a number events at the venue.

These have included The Warehouse Project and Manchester Pride – and an estimated 330,000 people visited the site in 2019.

The centre-piece of the project will be the transformation of a former railway depot which has been left empty for a number of years.

Two planning applications – which are the first phase of the scheme – will be considered by the city council.

The plans include a 70,000 sq ft office building, the new park and a multi-storey car park.

The completed scheme will include 1,500 new homes, 810,000 sq ft of office space, a 650-bedroom hotel, bars, shops and cafes.

The Mayfield Partnership is a joint venture which includes developer U+I, Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester.

James Heather, development director for U+I and the Mayfield Partnership, said: “There’s a fundamental link between culture and regeneration and providing a home for some of Manchester’s best cultural events has helped us to reintroduce this forgotten area of the city to its people.

“2019 provided many highlights and brought thousands of people to experience Mayfield for the first time. Throughout the year we’ve continued to work closely with local communities and stakeholders to reinvigorate the public opinion of Mayfield and understand what they want and need from the area’s regeneration.

“This is just the beginning of our work to transform this place and with our plans for the first phase of development with Manchester City Council, we’re excited about that 2020 will bring. It’s without question that culture will continue to be a massive part of Mayfield as we move forward.”

The scheme will eventually provide 1,500 homes, 155,000 sq m of office space, a 650-bedroom hotel, retail and leisure space.