Plans for the next phase of Bruntwood SciTech’s Manchester Science Park have been approved. The c. €69.6m redevelopment of Manchester Science Park’s existing Greenheys building will begin later this summer. The project will bring c. 12,170m2 of specialist lab space to the market.
The design by BDP will transform the building into a six-storey development for life sciences businesses working in diagnostics, genomics, biotech and medicine. The first half of the building will be occupied by life sciences company UK Biobank, the rest is available for life science businesses that want to set up in Manchester’s Oxford Road corridor.
Specialist features will include increased vibration resistance and floor loading, the provision of piped gas distribution systems and enhanced cooling and ventilation systems. The building is designed to achieve net zero carbon in construction and operation in its shared spaces and secure a BREEAM Excellent rating.
BDP director Gary Wilde said: “The redevelopment of Greenheys is one of the most forward-thinking, creative building projects in the sci-tech industry in the north. With more emphasis on innovation and life sciences in the region, the ability to design this new building which optimises the use of the existing site to deliver flexible laboratory spaces shows that we are designing for a prosperous future. It also demonstrates the creativity of Bruntwood SciTech and its commitment to the growth of this industry in the area. We are very excited to see a company like UK Biobank occupying a significant part of the space and we know that it, and other life science organisations, will be able to use this fantastic building as it is meant to be used – for world-leading research and discovery.”
