Manchester’s position as a leading UK life sciences hub has taken a major step forward as UK Biobank begins the fit-out of its new national headquarters at Bruntwood SciTech’s Greenheys — a purpose-built development at the heart of Manchester Science Park, due to complete in summer 2026.
The relocation will take half of UK Biobank’s 350-strong team, cutting-edge robotics, and millions of biological samples donated by their altruistic volunteers to Greenheys.
As well as accelerating research into diseases such as cancer, dementia, and heart disease, the relocation is expected to deliver significant economic value to the region and act as a catalyst for further growth across Greater Manchester’s science and innovation economy.
Backed by £127.6 million of investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the move will support deeper collaboration between UK Biobank and Bruntwood SciTech’s regional partners, including The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).
UK Biobank’s fit-out works at Greenheys are now underway, starting with the installation of a cutting-edge robotic freezer system from Hamilton Company – a leader in automated sample management and ultra-low temperature storage. The system will store and retrieve up to 20 million biological samples donated by UK Biobank’s 500,000 volunteer participants.
The facility will enable a new wave of projects that turn these samples into rich datasets, advancing research into how to prevent and treat a wide range of diseases. By increasing the speed and efficiency of sample retrieval, four times faster than current capacity, it will significantly accelerate research timelines and support a faster pace of data-driven discovery. Once ready, UK Biobank will occupy three floors of the 131,000 sq ft building.
Dr Kath Mackay, Chief Scientific Officer at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “With UK Biobank now starting work on its fit-out, we’re entering an exciting phase where Greenheys is really taking shape and the wider vision is coming to life. The new CGIs also offer the first real glimpse of what the building will provide, which is a highly specialist, future-focused space in the heart of Manchester’s life sciences cluster.
“Greenheys has been purposefully designed to give ambitious science and innovation businesses the environment they need to grow, collaborate, and thrive. UK Biobank is a fantastic anchor, and we’re now looking forward to welcoming more pioneering organisations into the ecosystem at Greenheys and across Manchester Science Park. It’s a real opportunity to co-locate with world-class institutions and be part of a community built for impact.”
Professor Rory Collins, Principal Investigator and Chief Executive of UK Biobank, said: “The completion of UK Biobank’s new headquarters now feels tangibly close. Alongside the fit out of the office, our automated freezers are currently being installed, paving the way for our move to the site in 2026.
“This new central Manchester site will allow UK Biobank to strengthen our collaborations with the University of Manchester, and foster new relationships with life science organisations, spanning diagnostics, genomics, biotech and precision medicine. The accelerated public health discoveries that will result from this move would not be possible without the generous funding from UKRI.”
Greenheys is being delivered by a Bruntwood SciTech-led team including Willmott Dixon, BDP, DW Consulting, Silcock Leedham, Walker Sime, East Coast Construction & Regeneration, NX Consulting, and I Want Plants. Retained agents are Track Real Estate.