Plans for a new £60m development at Manchester Science Park which could help create over 2,500 jobs have been unveiled by Bruntwood SciTech.
The joint venture is seeking the go-ahead for an extra 131,000 sq ft of lab space next to the University of Manchester’s main campus.
The plans represent the third phase of Bruntwood SciTech’s masterplan to grow the campus to one million sq ft following the completion of its purpose-built Industry 4.0 hub Base in July 2022.
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If the green light is given, the former Greenheys site will be redeveloped into a six-storey building designed specifically for scaling life science businesses working in diagnostics, genomics and precision medicine.
Bruntwood SciTech said the new building would reduce fossil fuel consumption and be 100% electric, have glare and heat gain reduced through its specially designed 'solar shading' façade, and include a green wall wrapped around the first two floors to increase biodiversity and improve air quality.
Manchester Science Park is already home to more than 150 SMEs and large businesses spanning biotech, precision medicine, diagnostics, digital health, cyber security, digital technology, medtech and light manufacturing.
Peter Crowther, property director at Bruntwood SciTech, a joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General, 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.
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