Updated plans for £1.5bn Mayfield development approved
Plans for a major boost to active travel facilities in Manchester, and two new office buildings, have been approved by the city council.
They include the creation of the city’s biggest cycle hub, featuring space for 400 bikes and the first commercial workspaces at Mayfield, where work is expected to start in the coming months as the Mayfield Partnership accelerates the delivery of the first phase of the £1,5bn development.
The newly-approved plans include 320,000 sq ft of office space across two new buildings – The Poulton, designed by Bennetts Associates and The Republic, designed by Morris+Company.
Supporting Manchester’s low carbon ambitions, the new offices will be targeting 600kg CO 2 per sq m of embodied carbon, around 40% less than traditional offices, making them one of the most sustainable new office buildings in the city and targeting a 5-star rating under the NABERS system for environmental performance.
The planned transport hub, designed by Mayfield Park architects Studio Egret West, will feature a series of attractive brick arches, which mirror the historic railway arches at Mayfield Depot, near Piccadilly rail station, with a full food and drink and entertainment offering on the ground floor, curated by Broadwick Live, operator of the Depot.
The plans also include an additional three-acres of public space to extend Mayfield Park to the surrounding buildings, contributing new landscaped areas, additional tree-planting, ecology and rain gardens to the area which is fast becoming one of Manchester’s most popular green spaces.
The three buildings were originally granted unanimous planning consent in 2020 by Manchester City Council’s planning committee, but have been refined to reflect the profound social and cultural changes brought about by the pandemic.
The transport hub will feature fewer car parking spaces with additional electric vehicle charging points. More than 500 sq m of PV panels on the structure will further boost sustainability at Mayfield. The transport hub includes the flexibility to increase the provision of EV charging to 50%, add additional bicycle parking, or to adapt to a complete change of use in the future.
Spanning 24 acres at a gateway site, Mayfield is an emerging world class urban community built around Mayfield Park, which opened 12 months ago, and which has been described as Manchester’s ‘green lung’.
The transformation of Mayfield is being led by the Mayfield Partnership a public-private venture made up of LandsecU+I – the regeneration arm of Landsec – Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and placemaking and regeneration specialist LCR.
Laura Percy, development director at LandsecU+I, said: “We are thrilled that our updated plans for a future-facing, greener first phase of Mayfield have been approved, and we can’t wait to start work.
“Since opening just a year ago Mayfield Park has set a very high standard, so it was sensible for us to ensure the original plans, which were brought forward before the pandemic, are right for the world today and will meet the highest standards.”
She added: “Manchester is an evolving, ambitious and progressive city and we are determined that Mayfield should be the ‘go-to’ location for businesses looking for brilliant connectivity and access to nature with stunning views across the park, ecology, biodiversity and peaceful green space on their doorsteps.”
