For 30 years a hidden gem lay derelict in Manchester City Centre.
Amongst its 24-acres, sat a beautifully gritty and industrial boarded up railway depot. This place of innovation, dating back to the 1700’s, was in desperate need of reinvention.
With our partners, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and LCR, we ensured that ‘Phase One’ of the rebirth of Mayfield began long before the first construction works would begin. From day one of the Mayfield Partnership being established in 2017, the heritage assets on the site were opened up to the people of Manchester, for the first time in a generation.
A host of carefully programmed and placemaking-focussed events and projects began immediately. Big moments at Mayfield included Grub running an independent food market, MIF choosing the old Depot as a venue in their arts and culture programme, independent creatives setting up temporary shipping container workshops on the platform, PRIDE hosting 30,000 revellers at one of the biggest live music concerts in the city, Dirt Factory setting up an indoor cycle and BMX arena and a residency with Broadwick Live bringing big name electronic music superstars to a place many had not heard of before.
Mayfield was now a place of the people long before it was due to be finished.