MAYFIELD PARK
Manchester’s first new public park in a century
Mayfield Park is Manchester’s first new city-center park in over 100 years. Spanning 6.5 acres, this £1.4bn regeneration project has transformed a derelict industrial site into a world-class green heart for the city. At its core is the "" of the River Medlockwhich had been hidden under concrete culverts for half a centurycreatinganature-led public space that anchors a new mixed-use neighborhood tensive commercial space.
Layer.studio Navigates Site Complexity to Help Deliver Manchester’s Mayfield Park
The project faced a massive technical and environmental hurdle: the legacy of Manchester’s industrial past. The site was a heavily contaminated brownfield, and the River Medlock was entirely inaccessible, trapped in decaying tunnels. The challenge lay in de-risking a complex site while ensuring that contemporary design and high-specification finishes could coexist with the rugged, salvaged remnants of Victorian infrastructure.
Eye on the Detail
At Layer.studio we like to zoom in and get to the real nitty gritty parts of a project. From the orientation of paving units to the concealed balustrade fixings, all elements of geometry were considered at every aspect, scale and plane. There was no stone left unturned and no detail left unresolved. A process of forensic quality control, client review and design coordination meant that every detail was considered and executed to the very highest standard bringing the innovative concepts to a site reality and delivering the project vision on the ground.
Uncovering the past; designing for the Future
The uncovering and unlocking of the River Medlock is a key driver for the park. Working alongside a huge multidisciplinary team, Layer.studio sought to weave together the remnants of the site’s industrial heritage with contemporary design and detail, creating a unique and characterful public space. This meant carefully preserving and repurposing key historical features alongside carefully designed details and finishes.
Authentically Urban
Mayfield Park works because it is "authentically urban." It doesn't try to hide its industrial scars; instead, it uses them as a framework for a lush, biodiverse ecosystem. By prioritising the landscape before the surrounding buildings, the project has established an immediate sense of place and value. It serves as a masterclass in resilient design, offering a 96% biodiversity net gain and a climate-adaptive landscape that provides flood protection for the entire city, while giving Mancunians a vital "green lung" for play, relaxation, and social connection.
Awards
Landscape Institute Award - Excellence in Place Regeneration 2023
Landscape Institute Award - Excellence in Landscape Design 2023
Shortlisted for The Developer and Festival of Place Award for Public Space 2023
Shortlisted for Landscape Institute Awards in: Excellence in Public Health and Wellbeing; Excellence in Climate, Environment & Social Outcomes; Excellence in Biodiversity, Conservation & Enhancement 2023
Green Flag 2024