Manchester unlocks 215,000 sq ft life sciences campus

Kadans Science Partner is expected to make a start on its Upper Brook Street labs early next year after the city council sold the site to the developer.

Manchester City Council has completed the disposal of Elizabeth Yarwood Court to Kadans to pave the way for a 215,000 sq ft life sciences building.

The deal also sees the council’s Homeless Hospital Discharge Accommodation, which was based at Elizabeth Yarwood Court, relocated to a temporary home in Northenden.

In the longer term, a permanent home for the service on Dickenson Road in Rusholme will be ready to occupy next summer.

At Upper Brook Street, Kadans’ eight-storey scheme is just one part of a wider 7.5-acre masterplan that will see another 475,000 sq ft of life science space delivered by Property Alliance Group and Moda, along with 900 student beds.

Meanwhile, McLaren is delivering around 1,100 student beds.

Manchester City Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig described the site as a “key regeneration location”.

“Upper Brook Street has the potential to bring long-term brownfield sites back into active use,” she said.

“This site represents the first of an ambitious programme of investment in this part of our city, which is supporting enviable growth for our research and life science sectors, creating quality jobs for our residents and diversifying the city’s economy.”

Craig added: “Given its location close to the Oxford Road corridor, the site allows for close collaboration with the city’s universities and research community, supporting opportunity for Manchester to continue to build its reputation as a globally renowned centre for medical and life sciences.”

Kadans is expected to begin the scheme early next year with completion scheduled for 2027.

Will Fogden, development lead for Kadans Science Partner, said:  “This is a significant milestone which kickstarts this mixed-use masterplan.

“Adopting a philosophy of designing ‘inside-out’ the scheme combines strong architectural language with robust functionality to create an optimum framework for innovation and collaboration.”

Ashton Hale advised Kadans on planning and Sheppard Robson designed the building.