Property round-up: Mayfield Park; Plus Dane; Jigsaw Homes Group; Sutton Council; Landmark; Blueoak Estates; Capital&Centric
LandsecU+I has launched a public consultation seeking opinions and feedback on proposals for the first new homes to be created within a major expansion of Mayfield Park.
The proposals would expand Mayfield Park by almost 40% and contribute 878 new homes – a mixture of one-, two- and three-bed apartments – to Manchester city centre.
The month-long public consultation will give local communities the opportunity to view the plans, speak to the design team and contribute ideas for how an extensive range of community and commercial spaces at ground floors could be used.
The proposals for Mayfield’s first new homes have been designed by architects shedkm and Studio Egret West – the original designers of Mayfield Park. They feature two adjacent buildings connected by a sequence of new park spaces including a rock garden and a new garden square, extending Mayfield Park to the South and featuring a reclaimed and reimagined station structure from the roof of Mayfield Station.
The proposed buildings would include a range of ground floor spaces open to the local community and residents, providing Mayfield Park with new amenities such as shops, cafes and spaces for health & fitness.
The proposed 2.5-acre extension looks to introduce a variety of new landscape characters and planting types to Mayfield, including rock gardens, rain gardens and podium gardens alongside new informal play areas including steppingstones and water features encouraging visitors young and old to interact with nature.
A new, planted, 180-metre estate street would run along the southern edge of Mayfield, parallel to the Mancunian Way, improving walking and cycle connectivity to the city centre from east Manchester.
The detailed proposals, include:
- 2.5 acres of more parkland (in addition to Mayfield Park’s current 6.5 acres)
- New informal play areas including steppingstones and water features encouraging visitors young and old to interact with nature
- 70+ new trees
- A variety of new landscape characters and planting types, including rock gardens, rain gardens and podium gardens which include a variety of herbaceous perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs and bulbs
- Sheltered areas to provide respite from sun, wind, and rain
- More opportunities to sit and relax
- Accessible routes for walking and cycling
LandsecU+I, the regeneration arm of Landsec, is leading the development which forms part of the wider masterplan led by the Mayfield Partnership, which comprises LandsecU+I, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, and regeneration and placemaking specialist LCR.
Laura Percy, Senior Development Director at LandsecU+I, said: “Our ambition for Mayfield to be a diverse, green, world-class place for all – whether that’s to live, work or play, burns as strongly as ever.
“Since delivering the first piece of Mayfield Park in 2022, we’ve been on a mission to continue to grow the park across our 24-acre masterplan. The major expansion of green and the first homes in this new city district, are all extremely exciting. The proposed 878 new homes would also contribute much-needed high quality housing as the city continues to grow at pace.”
A public consultation website is now live at mayfieldpark.commonplace.is where the detailed proposals can be viewed and feedback provided.
The Partnership and the design team is also hosting four public, drop-in exhibitions in the coming weeks:
Mayfield Park Arches 5 & 6 (next to the play yard): Saturday, 26th October: 10am-4.30pm; Thursday, 31st October: 4pm-8pm; Saturday, 16th November: 10am-4.30pm.
St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green N, Manchester M12 6FZ: Monday, 11th November: 3pm-7pm
The consultation will run until 18th November 2024.
::
Central Buildings, Crosby
A site in Crosby, North Liverpool, that was derelict for 15 years has welcomed the first occupants of 39 brand new homes.
Central Buildings on Coronation Road, has recently welcomed its new tenants under housing association Plus Dane.
Work on the 39 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments was undertaken by Plus Dane’s strategic partners Penny Lane Builders.
The original Central Buildings on the site had been used as office space, and was demolished in 2008 by a previous owner. Plus Dane secured the land in 2020 and decided to keep the name when building the new development.
Before work could begin, the area had to be inspected for anything of historical significance. In 2022, a dig by Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service found items including pieces of pots dating back to the 17th century, along with some Victorian pottery and what was thought to be a medieval well.
When allocating the new apartments, priority was given to people with links to the area.
Siobhan Moore, director of growth at Plus Dane, said: “Central Buildings is a brilliant location in the centre of Crosby, and it has been a great opportunity to rebuild and bring it back to life after a long period of uncertainty.”
Halsall Lloyd Partnership were the project architects on this development.
::
Brian Moran, Cllr Midgley, Ann Seipp
Work is now under way in Ardwick, Manchester, to build 24 new apartments for social rent on land at the junction of Devonshire Street and Coverdale Crescent.
The homes will be delivered and managed by local housing provider Jigsaw Homes Group, after it acquired the vacant site from Peel Waters in conjunction with Manchester City Council.
The homes will be allocated by Manchester City Council to meet local housing need as part of the Single Homeless Accommodation Programme (SHAP) and residents will receive tailored support through Jigsaw Support to help them on the path to living independently.
Marking the official start on site were Chief Executive of Jigsaw Homes Group, Brian Moran, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Joanne Midgley and Ann Seipp, Manager, Provider Management – Rough Sleepers at Homes England, along with representatives from the city council’s housing and homelessness team and Jigsaw’s executive management and development teams.
Funding for the development comes from Homes England, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government SHAP programme and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Brownfield Fund.
The scheme, to be known as Clover House, is being developed by contractors RP Tyson. It will be built over two floors, along with an office and two meeting rooms which future residents will be able to use.
There will also be off-street parking, as well as seven parking spaces and 28 cycle spaces and landscaped areas. It will offer high levels of energy efficiency to ensure low running costs for residents.
Brian Moran said: “It is great to see this development under way, given that there is a real need for more quality, supported housing across the North West.”
Cllr Joanna Midgley said: “It will be a high-quality scheme with tailored support on site that will really help people make that next step towards independent living, so we are really looking forward to it being opened.”
Cllr Paul Dennett, GMCA portfolio lead for Housing First, said: “It is great to see the Brownfield Fund unlock another key site in Greater Manchester and that the homes built will be for social rent, helping those most at need in the city region.”
Work on the scheme is expected to complete in October 2025.
Architects for the project are DK Architects and planning by Eden.
::
CGI of regeneration plans
Sutton Council has announced its preferred development partner for the next exciting phase of its town centre regeneration.
The plans for the St Nicholas Shopping Centre, Civic Offices, Gibson Road car park and Secombe Theatre sites will see a brand new Civic Hub open in the heart of the town centre.
The Hub will offer residents a new ‘front door’ to access services from the council and its partners right on the high street, as well as a new library and community spaces.
The proposed Civic Hub should be completed by mid-2029.
Around 740 new homes – 50% of which will be affordable housing for local families, including nearly 300 homes for social rent – will be built on the existing Civic Offices, Gibson Road car park and Secombe Theatre sites. There will also be improvements to the public realm, such as new ways to access the town centre.
The new retail space will provide opportunities for both existing and new businesses, as well as a range of new leisure facilities. This new mix of activities will provide Sutton residents and visitors a totally new experience and strengthen the local economy.
The decision follows the successful recent openings of Oru Sutton and Throwley Yard, the plans for a new home on the High Street for Sutton College, as well as the construction of new council homes at Beech Tree Place and Elm Grove in the town centre.
Cllr Barry Lewis, leader of the London Borough of Sutton, said: “This scheme will mean no new blocks on the high street and some mid-rise new development on the Civic Centre and Gibson Road car park sites. Meanwhile local families will gain much needed new social housing to support them through the national housing crisis.”
Cllr Sunita Gordon, Lead Member for Resources at Sutton Council, said: “The world of work is changing and the council’s needs are changing with it. This is a real opportunity to create a smaller civic centre that meets the highest environmental standards, helping us to take action on climate change while also reducing the Council’s operating costs.”
Mike Smith, Partner at Genr8 Kajima Regeneration, said: “With our expertise in fostering long term prosperity for town centres across the UK through mixed use regeneration, we look forward to working closely with the council to deliver a vital public scheme that prioritises community needs and paves the way for a sustainable future of Sutton.”
::
The Landmark
Savills, on behalf of Rias (Landmark), has been instructed to market office space at Landmark in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
The office element of the scheme offers three available floors – 1,430 sq ft and 1,688 sq ft, which are available as CAT A, and 2,704 sq ft of fully fitted and fully furnished space which is on the second floor.
The property features character suites offering exposed brick walls and wooden beams with an independent brunch and coffee company on the ground floor. The fourth floor benefits from its own private roof terrace.
Situated in the Northern Quarter, Landmark offers excellent transport links through Victoria Station and Shudehill Metrolink.
The surrounding area benefits from a wealth of amenities including Manchester Arndale, NOMA and Northern Quarter bars and eateries.
Oliver Luckman, Surveyor in the Office Agency team at Savills Manchester, said: “Landmark is a well located office building offering character workspace in a popular and convenient setting.
“The space at Landmark features flexible and good quality floor plates promoting personalisation, flexibility and business agility. With a focus on technology and wellbeing, the space is ideal for creativity to flourish and we are expecting a high level of interest moving forward.”
OBI are joint leasing agents on the scheme.
::
Parade View
Chester-based luxury and sustainable housebuilder, Blueoak Estates, is proposing its latest Wirral development, Parade View, which would follow the success of the sell-out Estuary View on adjacent land along Meols Parade.
Featuring seven stunning two-bedroom apartments, each designed with additional flexible space and incorporating future-proof, sustainable features such as lift access, Blueoak aims to create homes tailored for the growing rightsizer market.
The proposed apartments would offer uninterrupted views across the Irish Sea from their picturesque promenade location. Designed with an arts and crafts aesthetic to harmonise with the existing architecture, each spacious apartment would include a private terrace or balcony, providing sea views.
Iain MacLean, Managing Director of Blueoak Estates, said: “We’ve been thrilled with the response to Estuary View, which has now sold out, and that interest has inspired us to propose Parade View, a second, almost mirror image scheme.
“Hoylake and the surrounding area have a significant ageing demographic, and our research shows many wish to remain in the locale, downsizing to homes that offer the same high standard of living they’ve enjoyed in larger family homes, but are more suited to their future needs. Parade View would offer just that.”
The proposal would involve only a one per cent increase in hardstanding on the plot, retain the existing hedge, with the removal of just one poor quality tree, which would be replaced by the planting of 12 new trees.
::
Farnworth Green
Manchester-based social impact developer, Capital&Centric, has revealed how its radical reboot of Farnworth’s outdated precinct is shaping up.
With the Farnworth Green development set to complete by the end of the year, the developer will soon remove the site hoardings to reveal the new public square that’s emerging.
New images show the masses of outdoor space, which, alongside the public square, will include a pavilion to support outdoor community events from art and live music to makers markets, and lush greenery throughout.
New routes through the neighbourhood will connect Brackley Street and King Street, making it easier for residents and visitors to get around and explore the town centre by bike or on foot.
The Farnworth Green neighbourhood will feature 97 apartments and townhouses for rent, with stunning architecture reminiscent of their award-winning Manchester city centre garden neighbourhood Kampus. Set to be the first homes delivered under Capital&Centric’s ‘Neighbourhood’ brand it includes Bolton’s first ever zero emission homes which will slash energy bills for their residents.
Alongside the new homes sits more than 20,000 sq.ft of commercial space for an eclectic mix of businesses such as café bars, bakeries and restaurants as well as florists and hairdressers.
Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “You can really see the Farnworth Green community coming to life. It’s a big moment for us as it’s the first of our Neighbourhood style homes to be delivered. Neighbourhood is pioneering a new model for town centre living, rebooting tired retail areas into new liveable, sustainable communities.”
The developer is now focused on attracting new operators to set up shop in the town.
Expressions of interest are open for businesses to move into the various ground floor units which spill out onto the public square. The flexible spaces range from 500 sq ft to 5,000 sq ft and could accommodate a range of uses, whether an independent coffee shop, a local store for daily essentials or pizza place.
