Plans worth £400m to build two landmark office buildings in Manchester city centre have been revised after "profound cultural shifts in attitudes to work, wellbeing and nature since the pandemic".
Fresh planning permission for the first phase of the Mayfield development will now be sought in a bid to see the buildings designed and constructed more sustainably.
The go-ahead had previously been granted for the scheme which would have seen 320,000 sq ft of space created as well as a 581-space multi-storey car park.
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Under the revised proposals, the office sizes would remain the same but the car park would be reduced to 450 spaces and a 400-space cycle hub would also be included.
The Poulton building, designed by Bennetts Associates and The Republic building, designed by Morris+Company, will be targeting 600kg CO 2 per m2, making them one of the most sustainable new office buildings in the city.
An additional three acres of public spaces will extend Mayfield Park to the surrounding buildings contributing new landscaped areas, additional tree-planting, ecology and rain gardens.
The new buildings are also targeting a 5.5-Star rating under the NABERS system – widely considered to be a world leading environmental performance rating tool for commercial buildings.
The planned multi-storey car park, designed by Studio Egret West, would see the biggest proposed change and would be remodelled as a multi-use building, featuring one of the city’s biggest, single-site cycle parking for over 400 bicycles. It would also feature ground floor cafés, bars, restaurants and event spaces.
The three buildings were originally granted unanimous planning consent in 2020 by Manchester City Council.
The plans have been brought forward by the Mayfield Partnership, a public-private venture made up of LandsecU+I (the regeneration arm of Landsec), Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and placemaking and regeneration specialist LCR.
Subject to planning consent, work will begin on phase one later this year.
Laura Percy, development director at LandsecU+I, said: "Our updated proposals for a cleaner, greener and future-focused Mayfield phase one embrace the profound changes we’ve seen in recent years to the way we work, travel, and how highly we now value wellness and nature.
"Since then, Mayfield has contributed a beautiful new public park in the heart of Manchester.
"We believe Mayfield has the right mix to improve the quality of life for those who come here now, and for future generations.
"Creating one of the city’s largest cycle parks and designing-in the flexibility to repurpose the car park for a range of different uses, are just some of the ways we’re approaching Mayfield with a sustainable future in mind.
"Future occupiers at Mayfield will be drawn by the stunning views across the park, ecology, biodiversity and peaceful green space literally on their doorsteps, and a vision and commitment from the Mayfield Partnership that this place is a truly world-class urban neighbourhood long into the future."
