New multi-storey car park and huge offices in Manchester city centre to be built next year

Work on the first phase of development at Mayfield is set to start next year, as a deal to fund a £400m office scheme in central Manchester has been struck.

The Mayfield Partnership, a joint venture between developers U+I and LCR with Manchester council and Transport for Greater Manchester, has agreed to fund the first phase of development at the 24-acre site together with Landsec. The first phase of the plans along the south side of the city centre site include two office buildings with 320,000 sq ft and a 581-space multi-storey car park.

Manchester city council has also agreed to contribute £2.2m towards the plans which include buying the car park behind the Macdonald Manchester Hotel. It comes a couple of months after the city centre’s first new park in more than 100 years was opened as part of the plans for the site near Piccadilly Station.

The overall masterplan for Mayfield includes more than 1.5m sq ft of office space and 1,500 homes as well as food, leisure and retail facilities and more than 13-acres of public greenspace, including the newly opened Mayfield Park.

Developers have described this is a ‘landmark moment’ for the Mayfield plans.

Manchester city council leader Bev Craig said: “The chance to start building is a major move forward in our plan to create sustainable homes, jobs and a whole new leisure quarter at Mayfield.”

Work began at Mayfield shortly after the planning permission was agreed. In autumn 2019, the 10,000-capacity Depot Mayfield opened as a major live entertainment venue, hosting events including Warehouse Project and later became home to open-air food hall Escape to Freight Island in summer 2021.

As part of the development of the 6.5-acre park, which was funded by a £23m grant from the government, the previously hidden River Medlock which runs through the heart of the site has been uncovered and cleaned.

Planning permission for Phase 1 of the Mayfield development was granted in early 2020 and work is set to start on site in 2023 with a 24-month building programme planned for the 76,000 sq ft Poulton office block and the car park.

Another office block called The Republic is also planned in this phase while the next phase of development proposed includes three residential buildings.

Approving the council’s contribution towards the first phase of the scheme last week, council leader Bev Craig said the Macdonald hotel car park which will be acquired by the partnership will not be used as a car park in the future.

Asked about the plans for the site, a Mayfield Partnership spokesperson said: ”The acquisition of the car park lease is a strategic move by the Partnership.

“Our immediate focus is on delivering the remainder of the Phase 1 development, but the car park is obviously a key site in creating a whole new part of Manchester south of Piccadilly station.

“Over time we will be bringing forward exciting proposals for this additional part of the Mayfield project.”