Bruntwood SciTech — a joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General — said it will invest a further £60 million into Manchester Science Park (MSP) and support the creation of over 2,500 jobs.
Bruntwood SciTech unveiled plans for an additional 131,000 sq ft of highly specialist lab space to continue to build on the MSP’s cluster of clinical, academic and commercial life sciences assets, companies and expertise.
The plans, which represent the third phase of Bruntwood SciTech’s masterplan to grow the campus to 1 million sq ft following the completion of its purpose-built Industry 4.0 hub Base in July 2022, will see the existing Greenheys site redeveloped into a six-storey purpose-built lab space.
The new development is located adjacent to the University of Manchester’s main campus, in the heart of the city’s Oxford Road Corridor innovation district, which is home to 50% of the city’s life science businesses.
“The redevelopment of Greenheys will expand the existing life science cluster at Manchester Science Park, which is one of the UK’s most established life science and tech communities,” said Bruntwood SciTech.
“The campus is home to more than 150 fast-growth, pioneering SMEs and large market leading businesses spanning biotech, precision medicine, diagnostics, digital health, cyber security, digital technology, medtech and light manufacturing.
“These include the likes of international molecular diagnostics group Yourgene Health which opened its new global hub at the campus; Zilico which is developing the next generation of diagnostic devices for cervical cancer; and enzyme engineering company Imperagen.
“It will also support further economic growth through the creation of over 2,500 FTE jobs during its construction, operation and in the wider economy as a result of the development.”
Bruntwood SciTech Property Director Peter Crowther said: “The future success of the UK life science sector is dependent on its many fast-growing and innovative businesses having access to the infrastructure they need, whether that be flexible, specialist workspace or facilitated direct connections into world-class R&D, talent or potential collaboration opportunities with like-minded businesses.
“We continue to demonstrate our long term commitment to the places and cities in which we operate, Manchester Science Park being an exemplar of this.
“Since 2012 we have invested £43m in completing the first two phases of its masterplan, growing the campus from 210,000 to 500,000 sq ft and supporting more than 2,000 people based there everyday, and look forward to commencing with our third phase of redevelopment, at Greenheys.”
A local team has been appointed to work with Bruntwood SciTech on the redevelopment of Greenheys, consisting of BDP Architects, planning consultancy from Deloitte, cost consultancy from Walker Sime, DW Consulting for Structures and Civils, and Silcock Leedham for MEP.