With over 15 years’ experience in real estate investment and development, Laura brings a passion for long-term place curation to lead the team at Mayfield as the scheme builds on the successful delivery of Mayfield Park and moves towards its first phase of building development. Laura arrives with a wealth of experience and success in building city centre places that shape what is meant by true urban regeneration.
Laura joins at a pivotal time for the £1.5bn Mayfield masterplan, following the opening of the 6.5-acre park in September 2022 and a funding deal with Landsec for the first phase of commercial building, which was agreed in November 2022.
Prior to joining U+I, Laura was Head of Development at Bruntwood SciTech, where she led the development of the masterplan vision for the £1bn innovation district for ID Manchester. She previously worked in Hong Kong for the Swire Group before returning to Manchester.
Mike Hood, U+I CEO said: ““Laura is the perfect person to lead our strong team, rooted in Manchester, to deliver the special place that Mayfield is fast becoming. We are delighted to have her on board.”
Laura Percy said: “Manchester is going from strength to strength and is no stranger to innovation. I couldn’t be more proud to be able to contribute to positive regeneration on my home turf. The opening of Mayfield Park was an amazing achievement, showing the power of public-private ventures, and I’m thrilled to have the privilege to join the team taking the development through its next stages to create something genuinely world-class for the local community.”
The Mayfield Partnership – a public-private joint venture between regeneration developer U+I, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and LCR – could be on site in 2023 with a c. 24-month programme to deliver the neighbourhood’s first buildings – the 76,000 sq ft office “Poulton” and the car park.
Over the next ten years, the £1.4bn project will transform the previously run-down 24-acre industrial site near Manchester Piccadilly Station into a thriving urban neighbourhood, comprising 1,500 homes, 1.6m sq ft of market-leading commercial space, 300,000 sq ft of retail and leisure facilities, and 13-acres of public realm.
Mayfield Park is already becoming a beautiful and safe urban oasis for the local community, with over 11,000-sq-m of soft landscape, 140 new mature trees, 120,000 plants, bulbs and shrubs, and 365m of the River Medlock flowing through the centre.