Manchester Citylabs cluster set to expand

Bruntwood SciTech, a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General has appointed GMI Construction for its latest £42M 11,600m² specialist lab and office workspace at the Citylabs cluster.

Located within Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s (MFT) Oxford Road Campus, it will offer world-leading, highly specialist space specifically designed to support companies working in precision medicine, including those in diagnostics, genomics, biotech, medtech and digital health.

The seven-storey development incorporates infrastructure to accommodate specialist equipment, including increased floor loading, enhanced cooling systems and ventilation provisions, and a large platform lift.

Dr Kath Mackay, Director of Life Sciences at Bruntwood SciTech said: “There has never been a greater opportunity for the UK and Manchester to support the life science sector as there is currently.

“Manchester’s life science ecosystem continues to thrive and at Citylabs, through our partnership with MFT, we can provide businesses with direct access into the NHS and have tests and treatments adopted at a faster pace and scale here more than anywhere else, resulting in improved healthcare for the people of Manchester and wider region.”

Marc Banks, Divisional Managing Director of GMI North West, said: “GMI is delighted to be partnering up with repeat client Bruntwood SciTech on this next phase of the Citylabs campus expansion. There is no doubt that Manchester is the driving force for science, technology and innovation in the North and for GMI to be a part of that, working alongside Bruntwood SciTech, is something we are immensely proud of. Not only will we create a world-class office space, but it will also be one which has sustainability at the heart.”