Willmott Dixon hands over £60m Greenheys
Practical completion has been reached on the 131,000 sq ft Manchester Science Park building, billed as Bruntwood SciTech’s most scientifically capable asset in the city.
Bruntwood SciTech, the innovation-focused joint venture between Bruntwood, GMPF and Legal & General, described practical completion of the BDP-designed scheme as “a landmark moment”.
Greenheys, which has enjoyed funding support from UK Research & Innovation, becomes part of Bruntwood SciTech’s strategic infrastructure across Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor knowledge quarter, which includes MSP, the Citylabs campus and Circle Square.
According to Savills, science, R&D and tech are projected to contribute nearly a quarter of the city’s economy by 2028.
The 131,000 sq ft of laboratory and write-up space is centred on flexible Containment Level 2 (CL2) labs. These spaces, delivered on time and on budget by Willmott Dixon, offer dedicated fume extraction units, high-spec LEV capacity and advanced air handling designed to facilitate the most sophisticated analytical and research work.
This is supported by operational facilities including high-security access, clinical waste and chemical storage, goods-in areas with dedicated service lifts and loading bays engineered for the logistical demands of moving samples, equipment and materials at scale.
Greenheys customers will also benefit from workspace and community facilities supporting flexibility, collaboration and wellbeing, the developer said, with the building incorporating bookable meeting facilities, breakout spaces, bike storage and changing facilities.
Amenities in the area include the Abbey pub, recently restored and reopened by Bruntwood SciTech.
Classed as BREEAM Excellent, Greenheys is fully electric, and is also home to Manchester city centre’s largest living wall, made of a combination of 160,000 plants over around 18,000 sq ft, as Cheshire firm I Want Plants joined the project team.
UK Biobank will occupy three of the six floors at Greenheys, which will provide it with a new headquarters and research facility. The organisation is currently preparing to relocate 11 million biological samples from its ultra-low temperature automated storage in Stockport to Greenheys, while around half the organisation’s team will also move to the building, with UK Research & Innovation backing the move.
Greenheys represents a landmark for Bruntwood SciTech, the developer said. Credit: via Citypress
Sam Darby, development director at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Manchester and the wider North West stands at the crossroads of a significant opportunity for economic development. The huge potential of the region’s innovation sector hinges on the development of the networks and spaces that ambitious businesses need to grow.
“Greenheys is part of our response to that need and marks a significant moment in the ongoing delivery of specialist infrastructure across the city. The building has been created for ambitious, research-led organisations that need high-quality lab space, access to exceptional talent and direct connections into a world-class research, clinical and academic ecosystem.
“Reaching this milestone also strengthens Manchester Science Park’s role as a key part of the city’s innovation infrastructure, while bringing us an important step closer to welcoming UK Biobank to its new headquarters. At Greenheys we have the capacity to support a whole host of other organisations operating at the very highest level of scientific discovery; helping them to collaborate, attract talent and accelerate impact.”
The delivery of UK Biobank’s new headquarters was facilitated in part by UKRI providing a £127.6m investment from its infrastructure fund. The organisation has been on site fitting out since November.
Dr Ceri Williams, executive director of challenge-led themes at the Medical Research Council – part of UKRI – and senior responsible owner for the project, said: “As one of the world’s most important health research resources, UK Biobank provides researchers around the globe with access to data and biological samples that underpin breakthroughs in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
“Through our investment in UK Biobank’s new headquarters and automated sample store, we are strengthening its capacity and reach, enabling discoveries that improve lives and reinforcing the UK’s position as a global leader in life sciences and health research.”
The project team also included Deloitte, DW Consulting, Walker Sime, Silcock Leedham, Curtins, NX Consulting, Tyler Grange, RSK, GIA, Zed and ND Oliver.
You can learn more about the project by searching application reference number 136934/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
