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As a component of a primary development, the ambitious £1 billion plan for a 60-acre site adjacent to Manchester Airport is being revived. The project, now known as MIX Manchester, aims to create one of the largest science and innovation campuses in the UK, encompassing an impressive 2 million square feet of complex science and production space. Notably, it will be the only campus of its kind located next to a foreign airport, promising exciting opportunities for expansion and collaboration.
Airport City Manchester’s former assignment is undergoing a strategic shift. Rather than focusing on out-of-town offices, the new MIX Manchester will specialise in science, innovation and manufacturing. The master plan, developed through Sheppard Robson over a two-year period, aims to redefine the landscape of the region.
Mix Manchester aims to spice up the city’s generation and life sciences sectors, which are expected to come with Bruntwood SciTech and the University of Manchester’s £1. 7 billion ID Manchester and the £450 million Upper Brook Street Master Plan Property Alliance Group, Fashion, McLaren. Ownership Group and Kadans.
Willmott Dixon recently announced that he has been awarded the contract to build the £60 million Greenheys progression at Manchester Science Park for Bruntwood SciTech, a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal
The MIX Manchester domain was conceived in the past as an “Airport City” with a master plan created in 2012. The southern component of the site has been converted into a logistics domain called Global Logistics and was acquired through Icon Industrial in 2017.
However, the northern section, which encompasses the MIX Manchester, has encountered difficulties. The initial allocation of £1 billion was to provide five million square feet of workplace space. This included a giant campus for THG, a struggling retail and logo company, which ultimately never came to fruition.
The main players in the new venture are Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate, Manchester Airports Group, Beijing Construction Engineering Group International, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund. With a £30 million venture capital injection already invested in road infrastructure and apps, MIX Manchester is about to start as an ‘off-the-shelf’ site.
Infrastructure innovations are underway. A new pedestrian bridge now connects the campus to the main airport, while the Enterprise Way connecting road facilitates seamless access. In addition, electrical and high-voltage application connections were installed, complemented by 3 new hotels.
Gareth Jackson, director of real estate at Manchester Airports Group, highlighted the growing need for workplace space. As occupiers seek sustainable painting environments, MIX Manchester’s strategic compatibility aligns with the immediate expansion of the complex manufacturing, life sciences, virtual and generation sectors. The masterplan will be subject to public consultation this summer before moving into the planning phase, marking a pivotal moment in Manchester’s evolution as a scientific and generational centre.
Photography: Sheppard Robson