Breathing new life into a Grade I listed civic landmark
NG Bailey is supporting the restoration of Manchester Town Hall, a Grade I listed building at the heart of the city, working in partnership with Manchester City Council and Lendlease to preserve its heritage for current and future generations.
Although the building is more than 140 years old and remains structurally sound, the six-year programme focuses on restoring and renewing it for modern use — bringing it into the 21st century while carefully protecting its historic character and architectural integrity.
Working within a highly regulated heritage environment, all works require Listed Building Consent and close coordination with Historic England and conservation specialists, ensuring that every intervention is appropriate, approved and sympathetic to the original structure.
Replacing and modernising services within a sensitive heritage environment
NG Bailey’s scope includes the removal and replacement of mechanical, electrical and plumbing services throughout the building, spanning eight levels and integrating modern systems to support long-term performance and sustainability.
The refurbishment includes Cat A fit-out of upper floors to create flexible office and rental space, alongside upgraded communication infrastructure to enhance building functionality.
Delivering this within a historic structure presents significant challenges, requiring careful coordination, restricted access, and a high level of precision to avoid impact to protected architectural features.
Working under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA), NG Bailey partnered with Lendlease and design teams including Arup and Purcell to define scope, manage constraints and embed value engineering from the earliest stages.
Using offsite manufacturing and collaboration to manage complexity
Offsite manufacturing has been a key enabler across the project, allowing elements to be fabricated in a controlled environment where quality can be assured and high-risk activities such as hot works are minimised on site.
Close collaboration between NG Bailey’s Engineering, Offsite Manufacture and IT Services teams has enabled the development of coordinated, end-to-end solutions tailored to both the technical and heritage requirements of the building.
This integrated approach has improved safety, reduced site congestion and supported programme certainty within a constrained and highly sensitive environment.
Creating long-term value through skills, community and legacy
Alongside the physical restoration, the project is delivering significant social value within the local community.
NG Bailey has hosted eight students from central Manchester schools and colleges through an immersive work experience programme, providing insight into engineering careers across design, sustainability, planning and commercial disciplines.
The project has also supported the employment of 75 apprentices across multiple trades, including M&E, fire alarm and ductwork, helping to develop the next generation of engineering talent.
