A £60m specialist laboratory and workspace development aimed at supporting the North’s fast-growing life sciences and technology sectors has reached completion at Manchester Science Park.
Bruntwood SciTech has completed Greenheys, a 131,000 sq ft facility designed for science, research and innovation businesses, marking another major milestone in the continued expansion of Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor knowledge quarter.
The development, which was delivered on time and on budget by Willmott Dixon with funding support from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will provide flexible laboratory and write-up space for businesses working across life sciences, R&D and advanced technology.
Greenheys has been designed around flexible Containment Level 2 (CL2) laboratories, with dedicated fume extraction units, high-specification local exhaust ventilation (LEV), advanced air handling systems and specialist facilities including clinical waste and chemical storage, goods-in areas and loading bays.
The building also includes meeting rooms, breakout spaces, bike storage and changing facilities, alongside access to green space, a campus café, gym and the recently restored Abbey pub.
The BREEAM Excellent, fully electric building is home to Manchester city centre’s largest living wall, featuring 160,000 plants across 1,700 sq metres.
Bruntwood SciTech said the development would strengthen Manchester’s position as one of Europe’s leading innovation hubs. According to Savills, knowledge-intensive industries are projected to contribute almost a quarter of the city’s economy by 2028.
The development also reinforces Bruntwood SciTech’s presence across Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor, alongside Manchester Science Park, Citylabs and Circle Square.
One of Greenheys’ first major occupiers will be UK Biobank, which is relocating its headquarters and research facility to the site. The organisation is moving 11 million biological samples from Stockport, alongside around half of its 400-strong workforce.
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.”
Professor Sir Rory Collins, Chief Executive and Principal Investigator of UK Biobank, added: “The completion of our Manchester home marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for UK Biobank.
“Our dedicated lab team will soon be able to process millions of samples from our generous participants four times faster than before, accelerating the pace of health research. Being located alongside the University and a thriving life sciences community will also create new opportunities for collaboration and partnership across the wider UK Biobank team, while providing a modern, purpose-built working environment for colleagues.
“With thanks to UKRI’s transformative funding, I’m eager to see what discoveries our new home will help unlock and the benefits these will bring to our understanding and treatment of disease.”
The project was supported by a £127.6m investment from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund.
Dr Ceri Williams, Executive Director of Challenge Led Themes at the Medical Research Council, part of UKRI, said: “The completion of Greenheys is an important milestone for Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor and the wider innovation ecosystem across the North West. Supported by infrastructure funding from UK Research and Innovation, and delivered through a strong partnership of organisations, the development provides the specialist infrastructure needed to support world-leading research, innovation and economic growth.
“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.”
Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “Greenheys is a major addition to the Northern Growth Corridor’s science and innovation infrastructure, bringing the specialist laboratory capacity needed to support world-leading research and help ambitious businesses grow.
“With UK Biobank at its heart, and located alongside Manchester’s universities, hospitals and established innovation businesses, the development will further strengthen the Oxford Road Corridor as a globally important cluster.
“This is exactly the kind of long-term investment in capability that can attract more talent and private investment to our region, create highly skilled jobs and translate the North’s research strengths into economic growth and better health outcomes.”
Willmott Dixon’s Northern Managing Director, Anthony Dillon, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have handed over Greenheys to Bruntwood Sci-Tech and to see this fantastic new cutting-edge sustainable hub ready to revolutionise the life sciences industry.
“Alongside delivering a state-of-the-art development, we’ve put the local community and regional economy at the heart of Greenheys. Alongside our supply chain partners, we have spent 99% of the total project spend within 40 miles of the site and donated nearly £30,000 to local community projects. Creating sustainable employment and training opportunities has been a key focus, with 101 weeks committed to work placements, 1,126 weeks for apprenticeships and 21 new employment opportunities created.”
