GMCA reveals ‘shovel-ready’ schemes to get share of £54m
The mixed-use redevelopment of the Mayfield Depot near Piccadilly station is to receive £23m alongside other Greater Manchester projects, such as Glenbrook’s STOK and an innovation hub in Hulme, chosen for a Government funding boost.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a £900m Get Building Fund at the end of June, intended to speed up the delivery of major development projects across the country to boost the economy.
In July, Manchester City Council lodged an ambitious £1.5bn bid as part of the wider bid coordinated by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The council asked for a chunk of funding to support projects including the Northern Gateway and ID Manchester – but the vast majority of schemes on that list have missed out, according to the funding announcement today.
- Full list of project recipients below
In a statement, the GMCA said that £23m has been awarded to fund the first phase of development at the £1.4bn Mayfield mixed-use scheme. The first phase comprises Mayfield Park, a 6.5-acre public park, and 320,000 sq ft of commercial space across two office buildings.
The two buildings include the Poulton, which will provide 75,900 sq ft, and the 13-storey The Republic, which will add a further 244,000 sq ft of space.
The plans are being delivered by the public-private Mayfield Partnership, a joint venture between regeneration specialist U+I, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and developer LCR.
Stok will benefit from a share of the Government’s shovel-ready pot
James Heather, development director at U+I, said: “This investment recognises the catalytic economic and social contribution that Mayfield will make to the heart of one of the UK’s most progressive, competitive and open-minded cities.
“We’ve always believed that the public park will be among the most important things we deliver at Mayfield. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown into focus just how important accessible public spaces are.”
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, added: “This funding will unlock the opportunity to bring forward the city park, but also pave the way for the entire Mayfield project to be delivered over the next decade.”
The £1.4bn Mayfield regeneration project aims to bring back into a use a previously derelict 30-acre site opposite Manchester Piccadilly station over the next 10-15 years.
Once complete, the redeveloped site is planned to provide 1,500 homes, a 650-bedroom hotel, retail and leisure space, and more than 800,000 sq ft of offices.
The projects selected to benefit from the remaining £31m allocated by Whitehall to Greater Manchester are:
- STOK, being delivered by developer Glenbrook, is a 64,000 sq ft commercial scheme to be housed in the former M&S unit on Princes Street in Stockport £3.5m
- The completion of the 470-acre Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale £3.5m
- The construction of the South Heywood Link Road Phase 1 in Rochdale to unlock sites for up to 1,000 homes and 1.4m sq ft of employment space £10m
- Early infrastructure work at Peel L&P’s Port Salford transport and shipping hub which will be served by ship, rail and road and include 1.5m sq ft of logistics space £6.5m
- A 400-space multistorey car park and 70,000 sq ft office building as part of phase 4 of Stockport Exchange £6.6m
- A 90,000 sq ft innovation hub on Oxford Road, Manchester, to develop low carbon technologies £4m
Paul Dennett, the GMCA’s lead for housing, homelessness and infrastructure, said: “This funding from Government is a step in the right direction for our plans in Greater Manchester to bring new jobs and homes into our city and town centres.
“The announcement to support our ‘shovel ready’ projects demonstrates the Government’s confidence in our ability to deliver and it will support both our economic recovery from Covid-19 and our plans for homes, jobs and the environment.”
