University wants to develop 26 acre 鈥榙istrict鈥 in city centre

The University of Manchester is searching for a partner to help it deliver a 拢1.5bn 鈥榠nnovation district鈥 in the city centre.

A 26-acre site (pictured) by Manchester Piccadilly station is owned by the university and is already home to a biotechnology institute, and a 拢60m engineering centre built by Laing O鈥橰ourke.

But now the university has started pre-market engagement in the hope of finding an investor and developer for the remaining 16.4 acres of the site.

Its plans include around 3.5m ft2 of mixed-use space and three acres of public realm.

A contract notice will be published on the OJEU at the end of April.

The university says it 鈥渆xpects the mixed-use site will attract science, research, development, cultural and technology companies, as well as accommodating new residential space.鈥

The grade-II listed Sackville Street 好色先生TV onsite will also be re-purposed under the plans.

On Tuesday (5 February) the Deloitte鈥檚 crane survey revealed construction workloads in Manchester have already risen to record levels. 

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