Kier wins Siemens development contest
Siemens has selected Kier Property as its preferred development partner to enter into detailed negotiation for the future of its prime 20-acre Princess Road site in south Manchester.
Siemens employs 800 staff on the site and plans to increase this to 1,200 people in three years to work on the development of offshore wind power transmission technologies.
Kier will work with Siemens and Manchester City Council to bring forward a mixed-use scheme primarily of offices. The scheme will be anchored by a new 100,000 sq ft office building for use by Siemens whilst the existing Sir William Siemens House will be refurbished. The balance of the site will be developed in phases to provide new office, hotel and residential accommodation.
The development will be aimed at science and innovation occupiers; forging links with the region's universities and knowledge-based businesses in the low carbon sector.
Kier beat Bruntwood, Emerson Group and Wrenbridge with Palmer Capital to win the competition.
Siemens and Manchester City Council recently secured Regional Growth Fund support to aid delivery of the wider development and work will now proceed to agree commercial arrangements to bring the scheme forward.
The scheme is subject to the board approval of Siemens AG.
Juergen Maier, managing director of Siemens Industry in the UK & Ireland, said: "We have selected Kier as our preferred partner to support us in realising our ambitious plans to develop our Manchester site into a real centre for sustainable technology and innovation to support the City's low carbon vision. The development will create a real focal point for the City and also help in attracting new business and engineering skills to the North West."
Adam White, associate director at Jones Lang LaSalle, adviser to Siemens, added: "Kier has promoted a vision which, over time, will see this strategically important gateway site transformed into a "best in class" scheme. Its strong financial position will ensure that the scheme is able to gather early momentum."
James Nicholson, senior development manager at Kier Property, concluded: "The Princess Road site will act as a showcase for Kier Property's capabilities and will provide a platform for further development growth in the Manchester region. We are committed to delivering a scheme of the highest quality and one which complements and adds to Manchester's innovation and technology focus."
