The life sciences park is the first phase of the £450m Upper Brook street regeneration programme
A huge life sciences park set to bring over 2,000 jobs is to be built in a ‘key’ Manchester location.
Manchester City Council announced a deal today (December 2) with Kadans Science Partner UK, who will turn a 215,000 sq ft brownfield site in Upper Brook Street into a major lab and office space.
The new development, which runs adjacent to the Oxford Road corridor and sits close to the Mancunian Way, is set to be the first phase of the £450m Upper Brook Street regeneration programme which will transform the Manchester neighbourhood. Also in the pipeline are two purpose-built student accommodation buildings, and a further mixture of life science space and student accommodation further up Upper Brook Street. All were given planning permission in January this year.
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The council, who says it hopes the new life sciences park will foster links with the universities and research institutions that sit close by on Oxford Road, announced the disposal of land to Kadans today.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, called the area, which the authority says already boasts more than 50pc of all life science businesses in Manchester, a “key regeneration location” with potential to bring “long-term brownfield sites back into active use.”
“This site represents the first of an ambitious programme of investment in this part of our city,” said Coun Craig. “This is supporting enviable growth for our research and life science sectors, creating quality jobs for our residents and diversifying the city’s economy.
“Given its location close to the Oxford Road corridor, the site allows for close collaboration with the city’s universities and research community, supporting opportunity for Manchester to continue to build its reputation as a globally renowned centre for medical and life sciences.”
As the first project to begin construction under the scheme, the Kadans building will be set across eight floors, with purpose-built lab and office space, along with a town hall area and public café on the ground floor. A further 475,000sqft of life science employment space is being delivered by other developers in latter phases of the regeneration programme.
Will Fogden, Development Lead for Kadans Science Partner, said: “This is a significant milestone which kickstarts this mixed-use masterplan. Adopting a philosophy of designing ‘inside-out’, the scheme combines strong architectural language with robust functionality to create an optimum framework for innovation and collaboration.”
“We look forward to starting on site in 2025 and delivering on this transformational district that promotes inclusivity, innovation and collaboration to deliver game changing science.”
Construction is set to begin in the new year, with a view to completion by 2027.