Bright Building open for business

Manchester Science Partnerships has officially launched the Bright Building, its 70,000 sq ft flagship building at Manchester Science Park.

MSP also announced another tenant, in Ricardo, an automotive and environmental consultancy, which has taken 4,530 sq ft to house its water & environment practice. The business works with most major UK water companies, including Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and United Utilities.

Rowena Burns, chief executive of MSP, said: “The opening of the Bright Building marks the fulfilment of a promise we made four years ago: to create a place which celebrates the brilliant work of the science and technology businesses which have made their homes with us at MSP.

“The Bright Building sits at the heart of MSP’s original Science Park, part of the city’s Oxford Road innovation district and its richly diverse residential community. We want the Bright Building to become known as a place which is open to everyone who is curious about the power of science and technology to change lives.”

The building, designed by BDP, is also home to Mi-IDEA, a collaboration between MSP and Cisco billed as a post-accelerator centre to support start-ups to scale and to provide a space for co-innovation in the region. Bright will also serve as the centre of operations and demonstrator for CityVerve, Innovate UK’s Internet of Things city demonstrator, in which MSP is a lead partner.

NorthWest EHealth last week signed for 12,000 sq ft at the scheme, moving over from Citylabs. The 20,000 sq ft ground floor is given over to events and communal space.

Developed for MSP by majority shareholder Bruntwood, Bright is the first new build on the park in 15 years. Bruntwood is to follow up its work in the sector with the Manchester Technology Centre, located in the £750m Circle Square scheme.

Other features at Bright include cycle storage, shower facilities, kit drying room, a fitness studio with instructor-led classes, and an external yoga area. This is complemented by a ground floor café operated by Friska, which is the ethical caterer’s first northern site.

The building is part-funded by the North West Evergreen Fund, backed by the European Regional Development Fund, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Businesses moving to the Bright Building before April 2021 may be eligible for a total of £275,000 in business rates relief over a period of five years.