U+I makes key hire as £1.5bn Mayfield gathers pace 

Laura Percy has joined from Bruntwood SciTech and, as head of development, will lead the major Manchester mixed-use scheme. 

Percy has been drafted in specifically to lead the £1.5bn Mayfield project. 

Over the next 10 years 1,500 homes, 1.6m sq ft commercial space, 300,000 sq ft of retail and leisure facilities, and 13 acres of public realm are to be delivered across 26 acres close to Manchester Piccadilly train station. 

“I couldn’t be prouder to be able to contribute to positive regeneration on my home turf,” Percy said. 

“Manchester is going from strength to strength and is no stranger to innovation. 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.” 

Percy joins at a pivotal time for the 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 buildings, which was agreed in November 2022. 

The Mayfield Partnership – a public-private joint venture between regeneration developer U+I, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and LCR, is aiming to start work on the first phase, a 76,000 sq ft office and a multistorey car park, this year. 

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 chief executive, 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.”