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04 Jun 2021
First glimpse of Manchester's new urban park by Studio Egret West
By Tom Walker
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The new 6.5-acre green space will be the 'jewel in the crown' of the transformational Mayfield regeneration project
Photo: Studio Egret West/Mayfield Park
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New images have been released of what will become the first new public park in Manchester, UK, in more than 100 years.
Called Mayfield Park, the new urban green space has been designed by landscape architects Studio Egret West.
It will be part of the £1.4bn Mayfield regeneration scheme – one of the largest in the UK – led by the Mayfield Partnership, a public-private venture comprising regeneration specialist U+I, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and developer LCR Property.
Situated opposite Manchester Piccadilly station, the Mayfield site has been largely unused for 30 years.
Since 2018 U+I has invested in opening up previously inaccessible areas of the 30-acre site, as part of its strategy of re-establishing the area as a green space.
The new 6.5-acre park will be the "jewel in the crown" of the transformational development, for which Studio Egret West are also masterplanning.
Work has now begun on the project and, following the clearing and cleaning of the 24-acre former industrial site, the next phase will see the River Medlock – one of three rivers around which Manchester was founded – uncovered after more than five decades flowing through a concrete culvert.
The park and commercial buildings at Mayfield will sit alongside a range of historic buildings, including the landmark former station on Fairfield Street, which are being retained and redeveloped as part of the wider regeneration plans.
The long-term proposals will enhance many of the site’s historic features.
The vast depot building has already been transformed into a new cultural venue, Depot Mayfield, which welcomed 330,000 visitors to Mayfield in 2019, after more than 30 years of decline.
Overall, the Mayfield regeneration scheme is set to transform a previously derelict part of Manchester’s industrial heritage to deliver 1,500 homes, 1.6m sq ft of market-leading commercial space, 300,000 sq ft of retail and leisure facilities and 11 acres of new public realm.
Arlene Van Bosch, development director for U+I and the Mayfield Partnership said: “The Mayfield project has been gathering pace throughout 2021, and PP O’Connor Group is an important partner, with strong Manchester roots, a clear passion for Mayfield and a valuable commitment to working closely with Manchester’s community.
“Mayfield Park will define this part of the city centre when it opens to the public in 2022 so it was important to us that the contractors we selected would not only deliver outstanding technical work and economic value, but social value too.
“We have consistently pledged to use Manchester talent where possible in the development of this exciting new neighbourhood, so it is great to deliver on our promise by appointing a contractor headquartered just a few miles away from Mayfield and who understands this project’s significance to our city.”
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