The backers of the ambitious £1bn plan to develop a 60-acre site next to Manchester airport have rebooted the scheme with a masterplan for a 2m sq ft sci-tech campus.
The former Airport City Manchester scheme will also be rebranded as MIX Manchester, marking a strategic switch from out-of-town offices towards a specialised science, innovation, and manufacturing campus.
The masterplan has been developed by Sheppard Robson over a two-year period.
It will be delivered under a revised strategic regeneration framework that will undergo public consultation this summer before going in for planning.
The JV partnership behind MIX Manchester includes a group of clients represented by Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate, Manchester Airports Group, Beijing Construction Engineering Group International, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund.
With £30m of joint venture capital already invested in highways and utilities infrastructure, MIX Manchester is being brought to market as a ‘shovel-ready’ site.
A new pedestrian bridge linking to the main airport site, the Enterprise Way link road and the installation of high voltage electricity and utilities connections have already been completed, as well as three brand new hotels.
Gareth Jackson, group property director for Manchester Airports Group, said: “In recent years, we have seen occupier demand move away from traditional out-of-town offices.
“This trend, coupled with rapid growth in the advanced manufacturing, life sciences, digital and technology economies and the requirement for highly sustainable work environments has led us to adapt our plans for the next phase of commercial development.”
JLL and Track Real Estates have been appointed as agents and CBRE will be acting as planning consultants.
