St Mary’s Parsonage Revamp Unveiled Following Kendals Demise, Manchester 2026

Key Points

• St Mary’s Parsonage, a city-centre neighbourhood in Manchester, will undergo a complete public realm revamp
• Manchester City Council seeks a multidisciplinary team to develop coordinated public realm and movement strategy
• The transformation promises over 1.2 million sq ft of commercial space supporting 10,000+ jobs
• Development will include hundreds of new homes and new hotel provision across the neighbourhood
• The project anchors on major redevelopment of former Kendals department store building on Deansgate
• Relentless Developments, co-founded by Gary Neville, unveiled plans for the ‘Kendals District’
• £44 million Good Growth Fund investment accelerated the Kendals building redevelopment
• Council aims to create cohesive neighbourhood putting people at forefront with excellent public spaces
• The strategy will maximise potential of spaces between buildings for attractive, accessible neighbourhood
• High-quality public spaces, green and blue assets, and active travel opportunities are central to the plan

Manchester (Manchester Mirror)June 11, 2026 — St Mary’s Parsonage, a city-centre neighbourhood in Manchester, is set to undergo a complete revamp to improve its public realm and connectivity, marking one of the most significant urban regeneration projects in the city following the closure of the iconic Kendals department store.

The Kendals District redevelopment, christened by Relentless Developments — the property company co-founded by former Manchester United footballer Gary Neville — has recently unveiled plans that will serve as the key driver for the future of the overall neighbourhood, according to reporting on the development plans. The £44 million investment through the Good Growth Fund has accelerated the Kendals building redevelopment, acting as a crucial catalyst for the broader transformation of St Mary’s Parsonage.

Why Is Manchester Choosing to Revamp This City-Centre Neighbourhood Now?

Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, provided clear insight into the council’s reasoning for the revamp. As reported by the editorial team at Manchester City Council’s official news portal, Craig stated: “We believe this part of our city centre has a huge amount of potential, but it needs unlocking. So it’s important that as a Council we can sew together the various developments to create a cohesive neighbourhood that puts people at the forefront, alongside excellent public spaces, green and blue assets and active travel opportunities”.

The council’s approach reflects a strategic decision to bring forward a cohesive methodology that maximises the potential for the spaces between buildings, ensuring that new development creates a more attractive, accessible neighbourhood with high-quality public spaces, according to the council’s stated objectives. This coordinated approach aims to address the fragmentation that has existed in the area since Kendals’ closure, creating unity between disparate development projects.

The public realm overhaul is specifically aimed at activating streets and improving existing public spaces, including Motor Square and Parsonage Gardens, which have suffered from reduced activity following the department store’s closure. These spaces represent critical nodes in the neighbourhood’s public realm that require enhancement to support the anticipated increase in commercial and residential activity.

How Will the Kendals District Development Transform the Area?

Relentless Developments’ plans for the Kendals District represent the cornerstone of the broader St Mary’s Parsonage transformation. The property company, co-founded by Gary Neville, has positioned the former Kendals department store building as the anchor for what will become a comprehensive mixed-use development spanning the Deansgate area.

The development strategy focuses on creating a cohesive neighbourhood that integrates commercial, residential, and hospitality components. The projected delivery of over 1.2 million sq ft of commercial space represents a substantial economic injection into Manchester’s city centre, with the council estimating this will support more than 10,000 jobs across various sectors.

The residential component includes hundreds of new homes, addressing Manchester’s ongoing housing needs while contributing to the neighbourhood’s transformation into a vibrant, 24-hour district. The addition of new hotel provision will support Manchester’s growing tourism and business travel sectors, complementing the city’s existing hospitality infrastructure.

What Role Does the Good Growth Fund Investment Play in This Development?

The £44 million investment through the Good Growth Fund has been instrumental in accelerating the Kendals building redevelopment, according to Manchester City Council’s official announcement. This funding represents a significant public investment that demonstrates the council’s commitment to unlocking the area’s potential and serves as a key driver for the future of the overall neighbourhood.

The Good Growth Fund investment acts as a catalyst, enabling private sector developers like Relentless Developments to move forward with their plans with greater confidence. This public-private partnership model reflects contemporary urban regeneration approaches that leverage public funding to stimulate private investment in transformative projects.

The accelerated timeline for the Kendals building redevelopment means that the broader St Mary’s Parsonage transformation can progress more rapidly than initially anticipated, potentially delivering benefits to the city centre sooner than planned.

Who Is Manchester City Council Seeking to Lead the Public Realm Strategy?

Manchester City Council is actively searching for a multidisciplinary team to shape the coordinated public realm and movement strategy for St Mary’s Parsonage. This search reflects the council’s recognition that the complexity of the transformation requires expertise spanning urban design, transportation planning, landscape architecture, and community engagement.

The council’s requirement for a multidisciplinary team indicates that the public realm strategy must integrate multiple dimensions of urban planning. The movement strategy component will address how people navigate the neighbourhood, including active travel opportunities that align with Craig’s emphasis on putting people at the forefront of the development.

The coordinated approach sought by the council aims to ensure that the various developments within St Mary’s Parsonage work together rather than operating as isolated projects. This coordination is essential for creating the cohesive neighbourhood that Craig described as the council’s objective.

What Specific Public Spaces Will Be Improved in the Revamp?

The public realm overhaul specifically targets improvements to existing public spaces including Motor Square and Parsonage Gardens, according to reporting on the development plans. These spaces represent critical elements of the neighbourhood’s public infrastructure that have experienced diminished activity following Kendals’ closure.

Motor Square and Parsonage Gardens will receive enhancements designed to activate these spaces and make them more attractive destinations for pedestrians. The improvements will contribute to creating high-quality public spaces that support the council’s vision for a people-focused neighbourhood.

The strategy also includes the integration of green and blue assets — environmental features that enhance the neighbourhood’s sustainability and aesthetic quality while providing ecological benefits. These assets will complement the active travel opportunities that form part of the council’s people-focused approach.

How Does This Development Connect to Manchester’s Broader City-Centre Regeneration?

The St Mary’s Parsonage revamp represents a significant component of Manchester’s broader city-centre regeneration strategy. The transformation seeks to sew together various developments to create a cohesive neighbourhood, addressing the fragmentation that has characterised the area since the Kendals department store closure.

The project aligns with Manchester’s ongoing efforts to revitalise its city centre following years of changing retail patterns and the decline of traditional department stores. The conversion of the former Kendals building into a mixed-use development represents a contemporary approach to repurposing legacy retail infrastructure for modern urban needs.

The estimated delivery of 10,000+ jobs and hundreds of new homes positions St Mary’s Parsonage as a significant contributor to Manchester’s economic and residential growth, supporting the city’s broader ambitions for sustainable urban development.

What Timeline Is Expected for the St Mary’s Parsonage Transformation?

The coordinated public realm and movement strategy is set to deliver the commercial space, jobs, homes, and hotel provision over a 10-year period, according to Manchester City Council’s project specifications. This extended timeline reflects the complexity of the transformation and the coordination required between multiple development projects.

The accelerated Kendals building redevelopment, enabled by the £44 million Good Growth Fund investment, means that certain elements of the transformation may progress more rapidly than the overall 10-year schedule. This acceleration could deliver early benefits to the neighbourhood while the broader strategy unfolds.

Background: The Development of St Mary’s Parsonage and Kendals Closure

St Mary’s Parsonage has been a city-centre neighbourhood in Manchester undergoing significant change following the closure of the iconic Kendals department store on Deansgate. The Kendals building, a landmark structure that had served as a major retail destination, became vacant following its closure, creating a gap in the city centre’s retail landscape and reducing activity in the surrounding area.

Relentless Developments, the property company co-founded by Gary Neville, identified the former Kendals building as the anchor for a comprehensive redevelopment project christened the ‘Kendals District’. The company unveiled plans for major redevelopment of the building, transforming it from a single-use retail destination into a mixed-use development incorporating commercial, residential, and hospitality components.

Manchester City Council recognised that the Kendals building redevelopment required supporting infrastructure and public realm improvements to maximise its impact on the broader neighbourhood. The council’s decision to launch a search for a multidisciplinary team to develop a coordinated public realm and movement strategy reflects the understanding that successful urban regeneration requires integrated planning across multiple dimensions.

The £44 million investment through the Good Growth Fund provided crucial public funding that accelerated the Kendals building redevelopment, demonstrating the council’s commitment to unlocking the area’s potential. This investment acted as a key driver for the future of the overall neighbourhood, enabling private sector development to progress with greater certainty.

Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, articulated the council’s vision for the transformation, emphasizing the need to sew together various developments to create a cohesive neighbourhood that puts people at the forefront alongside excellent public spaces, green and blue assets, and active travel opportunities.

Prediction: How This Development Will affect Manchester Residents and Businesses

The St Mary’s Parsonage revamp will significantly affect Manchester residents and businesses across multiple dimensions. For residents, the creation of hundreds of new homes will expand housing options in the city centre, potentially providing more choices for those seeking urban living close to employment opportunities and cultural amenities. The improved public realm, including enhancements to Motor Square and Parsonage Gardens, will create more attractive spaces for pedestrians, improving the quality of daily life for those living and working in the area.

The projected support for over 10,000 jobs represents a substantial economic opportunity for Manchester residents. These jobs will span commercial, residential, and hospitality sectors, creating employment opportunities across various skill levels and providing pathways for local workforce development. The new hotel provision will support Manchester’s tourism sector, potentially increasing visitor numbers and benefiting existing hospitality businesses through enhanced destination appeal.

For businesses operating in or near St Mary’s Parsonage, the 1.2 million sq ft of commercial space will create new opportunities for expansion and relocation. The improved connectivity and attractive public spaces will enhance the area’s appeal to customers and clients, potentially increasing foot traffic and commercial activity. The cohesive neighbourhood approach will reduce fragmentation, creating a more predictable and supportive environment for business investment.

The active travel opportunities and green and blue assets will improve sustainability and environmental quality, benefiting residents and businesses through reduced congestion, improved air quality, and enhanced aesthetic appeal. These improvements align with contemporary urban planning priorities that prioritise people-focuseddevelopment, potentially positioning St Mary’s Parsonage as a model for future Manchester regeneration projects.

The 10-year implementation timeline means that benefits will unfold progressively, allowing residents and businesses to adapt gradually to changes while providing opportunities to engage with the development process. The accelerated Kendals building redevelopment may deliver early benefits, creating momentum for the broader transformation and demonstrating the viability of the council’s people-focused approach.