MSP puts in plans for Citylabs 4.0

Designs for the £35m next phase of the Citylabs development off Oxford Road, delivering offices and labs for life science occupiers, have been submitted to Manchester City Council.

At a planning consultation earlier this year, Manchester Science Partnerships said work was likely to start on the 125,000 sq ft site next summer, with main works due for completion by July 2022.

The development of the fourth phase of Citylabs would begin with the demolition of the temporary two-storey Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Diabetes Centre and the clearing of its adjacent surface car park.

Citylabs 4.0 will be built south of MSP’s existing Oxford Road Campus, next to Citylabs 2.0 and 3.0 on Hathersage Road. Designed by Sheppard Robson, the scheme will provide seven floors of offices and lab space.

This proposal follows the £60m expansion already under way to create Citylabs 2.0 and 3.0. Citylabs 2.0 is due for completion this year, and is where global diagnostics company Qiagen will base its European hub for diagnostics development.

Citylabs 3.0 is the redevelopment of Old Saint Mary’s Hospital and adjoining chapel. The site has planning permission, and construction is due to begin when Citylabs 2.0 is complete.

Citylabs is a joint venture between Manchester Science Partnerships and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Deloitte is the planner.