Central government is in discussions with a consortium of Manchester landowners to take up to 430,000 sq ft in prelets to galvanise the city’s HS2 regeneration plans.
London and Continental Railways, Manchester city council, and Transport for Greater Manchester this week agreed to pool their land to unlock 807,000 sq ft of office space and 1,300 homes in anticipation of the Piccadilly HS2 terminus.
Discussions have been held with the Government Property Unit to line up government tenants to take up to 431,000 sq ft in prelets.
Dubbed the Mayfield Quarter, the project will also include a 350-bed hotel, retail and leisure facilities and a six-acre city park.
The Mayfield Strategic Regeneration Framework was endorsed by the council in January 2014, setting out a loose plan for a new gateway quarter to the city.
As well as integrating the major new HS2 station planned to arrive in the area in 2033, it would link up with Network Rail’s Northern Hub project, due to complete in 2018.
Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: “The location and size of this site make it a sustainable location for growth and development and a logical progression in the growth of the city centre. Mayfield will complement the regeneration of the wider Piccadilly area, building on the opportunities created by HS2 and the Northern Hub, and act as a catalyst for further benefits.”
LCR chief executive David Joy said: “The transformation of Mayfield into an urban development will not only provide a new high-quality public and commercial space but will enhance connectivity beyond the site and act as a catalyst to maximise the regeneration potential of the area.”
LCR owns a 6.2-acre site adjacent to Piccadilly Station, including the former Mayfield railway depot – closed since 1986.
