Hut Group to build Manchester Airport business campus

The Hut Group (THG), one of the world’s largest online beauty and wellbeing businesses, has agreed a major deal to develop 92,000m² of office and studio space near Manchester Airport.

Adjacent to the UK’s third biggest airport, the largest of the two sites, THQ, will be a new landmark business campus. The site will be built over 16.8 acres in four phases, with phase one comprising office buildings totalling 26,000m².

An option agreement has been reached between THG and Airport City Manchester for phases two, three and four of the business campus. Ultimately supporting up to 10,000 jobs, the project represents the UK’s largest bespoke office development outside London.

Airport City Manchester’s joint venture partners will act on behalf of THG as the project’s developer, working in partnership with creative executive architect, workplace culture strategist and interior designer, PENSON. A planning application has now been submitted, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2019.

At the second site nearby, THG is building a new development called ICON, the Group’s new content creation studio.

The ICON development will provide office space over four floors as well as additional content creation facilities. ICON will house approximately 2,000 people who will be focused on video production and photography, to be used across THG’s digital offering.

The Hut Group Founder and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Moulding said: “THQ is a landmark development for THG and another important step in our growth story. As we continue to extend our global footprint, it makes sense for us to base our headquarters at Airport City in Manchester, with its global connections and access to talent and supply chains worldwide.”