Mayfield is a large-scale regeneration scheme unlike any other. Under the direction of the Mayfield Partnership — a public-private partnership comprising regeneration specialist U+I, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and LCR — 24 acres of derelict brownfield land in central Manchester are being transformed into a distinctive, imaginative and diverse neighbourhood. 

The masterplan capitalises on the site’s existing historic assets — the vast Mayfield depot, railway arches and the River Medlock — to create an environment for work, play and living that is rich in local identity.

Overall, Mayfield will deliver 1,500 homes, 1.6m sq ft of market-leading commercial space, 300,000 sq ft of retail and leisure facilities and 14 acres of public realm, centred around the city’s first new public park in over 100 years.

Here, ‘nature-first’ proposals include opening up the River Medlock, which winds through the site but is largely hidden by culverts, to create a biodiverse and tranquil waterway  and provide a flood plain that can accommodate climate-change scenarios. Construction on the first phase of the £1.4bn scheme is now underway, which includes the 6.5-acre Mayfield Park. This will ensure the new neighbourhood is formed around valuable public amenity that serves residents, workers and visitors and offers significant wellbeing benefits. The Mayfield Partnership has also committed to creating a ‘park charter’ to ensure the delivery of an exemplar urban public green space that endures as a safe, stimulating and sustainable place for everyone in the city long into the future.

The park will neighbour world class residential and commercial buildings, with the latter providing a range of spaces designed to attract both large established and small innovation-focussed businesses, as well as community organisations. 

A BREEAM excellent rating is targeted for the buildings comprising the framework. Additionally, the new, sustainable, climate change resilient, privately owned public park in the centre of Manchester provides a significant contribution to the cities green and blue infrastructure. A key part of the design is to open up the previously culverted river, naturalise the river banks, accommodate a 1 in 100 year plus climate change scenario and subtly programme the space through a series of passive and active uses that will appeal to people from all walks of life.

The planting design of the park is being shaped with the future in mind, featuring biodiverse ecological areas and floodable meadows to accommodate climate-change scenarios. With quiet spaces for contemplation and sheltered areas, it will be a community asset which promotes wellbeing in all seasons. 

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