Science and technology park operator Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP) said it submitted a planning application to Manchester City Council seeking approval for its proposed £60 million expansion of the Citylabs campus biomedical centre.
MSP said that if approved, the proposed developments – a joint venture with Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) – are expected to boost Manchester’s economy by more than £100 million and bring 750 jobs to the city by 2020.
Located on the CMFT campus in the heart of Manchester’s Innovation District, Corridor Manchester, Citylabs 2.0 and 3.0 will target health and medical technology companies.
MSP and CMFT have received expressions of interest from potential occupiers after showcasing Citylabs 2.0 and 3.0 during a trade mission to the US which included meetings at the important AdvaMed conference.
Thomas Renn, managing director of Manchester Science Partnerships, said: “After consulting with the local community and other stakeholders last month, we’re pleased and excited to be bringing this ambitious development forward.
“The success of Citylabs 1.0 – which was fully let within 15 months of opening – has given us the confidence to invest in phases two and three, and we are sure demand will be strong for these high quality facilities located in a great physical and intellectual environment.”
Keith Chantler, Director of Innovation at CMFT, said: “This joint partnership with MSP offers a fantastic opportunity for our patients, staff and our hospitals, to further develop the successful Citylabs cluster. Citylabs brings together NHS, university and industry partners to co-develop new healthcare technologies.
“By involving clinicians and patients from the start of the development and testing process, products are more likely to meet our future needs, and be rapidly adopted by the NHS and other health services across the world.”
Chris Roberts, development director at Bruntwood, which submitted the application on behalf of MSP, said: “The planned expansion of Citylabs is a great vote of confidence in Manchester and alongside the existing major developments on the city’s Innovation District — such as Circle Square and the Alliance Manchester Business School — will reinforce its credentials as a world class location for science and technology businesses.”