The Mayfield is currently undergoing a huge regeneration project, and the plans include a brand new park for the city.
The £1.4 billion scheme is set to bring to life the derelict Mayfield site, with 14 acres of space for Mancunians to enjoy.
The area will be completely transformed and will include the city’s first park in over 100 years – which is now confirmed to be under construction. The 6.5-acre park will surround the banks of the River Medlock and feature parkland and gardens with trees and shrubbery, as well as walkways for the public to use. The park will also feature space for everyone to use, including play areas, space for sports, an urban square, floodable meadows and quiet spaces for those who want a break from the city.
The development of the space, currently home to Mayfield depot, will transform it into a vibrant new neighbourhood – ideally located by Piccadilly station for young professionals and people visiting the city.
In addition to the brand new park, the scheme will also deliver 1,500 new homes, 1.7m sq ft of office space, shops, a new car park and a 650-bed hotel – and it’s expected to bring with it over 10,000 office, retail, leisure and construction jobs for the local community.
Leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese, said: “There are some development projects that have such transformational potential that we await their beginning with great anticipation. Mayfield is most definitely one of them.
“This part of the city centre has been under-used for decades and it’s brilliant that we can now celebrate the first shovels going in the ground on the new city park and a green sanctuary at the heart of our city – followed closely by significant investment in new commercial space and new homes.
“Mayfield is a project of exceptional ambition. And ambition is the very tonic we need as we navigate our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic towards economic recovery – in part through high-quality, impactful investment in our city, such as this.”
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Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham added: “I’m so pleased to see ground broken on the Mayfield Park development.
“If we needed a reminder of the importance of accessible green spaces and the benefits they can bring for our mental and physical wellbeing, this year certainly brought one.
“A new public park can give a real lift to this part of Manchester, creating important new community assets and jobs. As part of a much wider vision for the city centre, it can help to boost our economic recovery and transform urban space for the people who live, work, and do business here.”
The Mayfield area has already seen vast improvements with the depot opening just last summer as a new venue for the city, generating £7.9m for the local economy in 2019 and attracting 225,000 people. This year, the space has become the hotspot of the town – with huge success surrounding Escape to Freight Island.
So far, the 24-acre area has been cleared and cleaned, with the next phase set to uncover the River Medlock after around 50 years hidden under concrete.
It is now expected that the park will be complete sometime in 2022, with the wider project currently planned to unfold over the next ten to fifteen years.