Airport City phase one approved

The £100m World Logistics Hub, in the southern part of Airport City, has received outline planning consent from Manchester City Council.

John Atkins, director of Airport City, said: "World Logistics Hub will attract new international businesses and help existing airport businesses to expand, generating much-needed economic growth and over 1,800 new jobs. The development will create a sustainable commercial product of international significance, providing high quality logistics facilities linked to the existing airport freight area, with access to the global marketplace – along with 60% of all UK businesses and a consumer market of over 24 million within a two-hour drive time.

"We already have significant international interest in the scheme and planning approval is a big step forward towards starting to deliver new employment opportunities for local people."

The site is within Manchester Airport's operational area next to Junction 6 of the M56, close to the existing airport freight area. The application site totals 91.2 acres, of which around one third, 36.6 acres, is dedicated to new landscaping and natural habitats.

MAG Developments plans to build up to 1.4m sq ft of new logistics space over the next ten years.

The logistics park is the first phase of the £650m Airport City scheme, part of Greater Manchester's Enterprise Zone. In total Airport City Manchester will deliver up to 5m sq ft of new business space over the next ten to 15 years.