Boost For Northern Knowledge Economy As Bruntwood SciTech Completes Greenheys At Manchester Science Park

Bruntwood SciTech, the UK’s largest property platform dedicated to the growth of tech, innovation and science sectors, has surpassed a landmark moment at Manchester Science Park with the practical completion of Greenheys, the £60 million laboratory and workspace development designed to support the needs and ambitions of cutting-edge science, technology and innovation businesses. 

Soon to become a vital cornerstone in Manchester’s thriving innovation sector, Greenheys’ completion, with transformative funding support from UKRI, represents the latest watershed moment in the city’s long running and deep-rooted relationship with innovation and scientific progress. As one of the continent’s fastest growing city regions, and with a wealth of industrial and academic expertise and existing infrastructure, Manchester is increasingly a desirable destination for businesses looking to grow alongside like-minded innovators in a supportive ecosystem. 

Against this backdrop, the completion of Greenheys marks its arrival as Bruntwood SciTech’s most scientifically capable space in the city and represents a huge investment in Manchester’s rapidly growing science, R&D and tech sectors, which are projected to contribute nearly a quarter of the city’s economy by 2028 (Savills). It also now becomes part of Bruntwood SciTech's strategic infrastructure across Manchester's Oxford Road Corridor Knowledge Quarter, which includes Manchester Science Park, the Citylabs campus and Circle Square - a cluster specifically designed to support science and tech innovation at scale.

Bruntwood SciTech, a joint venture between Bruntwood, L&G and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, has developed the new 131,000 sq ft of laboratory and write-up space to centre 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 first-rate 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’ new customers will benefit from top workspace and community facilities supporting flexibility, collaboration and wellbeing. The building incorporates bookable meeting facilities, break-out spaces, bike storage and changing facilities.

Alongside access to premier workspace and the Bruntwood SciTech innovation ecosystem, locating at Greenheys also places customers nearby to some of the city’s best hospitality and leisure offerings. Greenheys itself also offers access to breakout green spaces, a campus cafe and gym, and even a pub - The Abbey - an adjacent local institution which has recently undergone a full restoration by Bruntwood SciTech as part of its commitment to make Manchester Science Park a thriving, vibrant destination. 

The BREEAM Excellent, fully electric development is also home to Manchester city centre’s largest living wall, made of a combination of 160,000 plants over 1,700 sq metres of space. The plants help reduce air pollution and simultaneously provide a unique environment for pollinators, local wildlife and over 125 different species of invertebrates. These inclusions help to create a natural working environment, designed to support the need for balance between focused work in a high-tech environment and the vital relaxing spaces that support sustained productivity and better outcomes.

Bruntwood SciTech has also prioritised driving social impact and local economic development through the delivery of Greenheys with 99% of project spend retained within 40 miles of the site. That’s meant that the very best of northern England’s talent have been involved in delivering the development, including BDP’s architects in Manchester; mechanical and electrical design engineers drawing from Leeds, planners based in Deloitte’s Manchester team, Wilmott Dixon’s construction management team and their Greater Manchester-wide presence, and Cheshire-based I Want Plants, adding more than a touch of green.   

Greenheys will provide UK Biobank, the world's most comprehensive source of biological, health and lifestyle information, with a new headquarters and research facility. The organisation is currently preparing to relocate 11 million biological samples from their ultra-low temperature automated storage in Stockport to Greenheys, alongside half of their nearly 400-strong team. With this relocation currently underway, customers at Greenheys will benefit from co-location and collaboration opportunities with both UK Biobank and similar industry leaders, not only at the new innovation hub, but across Manchester Science Park and the wider Bruntwood SciTech network.

UK Biobank’s decision to establish new headquarters at Manchester Science Park reflects the importance of the Oxford Road Corridor as a globally significant research cluster. UK Biobank is a unique global research asset, providing approved researchers around the world with access to a wealth of health and lifestyle information from half a million UK volunteers. This data underpins breakthrough discoveries in disease prevention and treatment. The move, supported by substantial investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), enables UK Biobank to consolidate and expand its research infrastructure, increasing the capacity and reach of its mission to improve the health of humankind. 

The location of Greenheys at Manchester Science Park, the centre of the city’s vibrant innovation community, will also give customers a valuable foothold in the city’s competitive and industry-leading science and tech scene. According to the city’s council, Manchester Science Park has a GVA of £3 billion per annum (MCC) and its place at the heart of the largest clinical, academic campus in Europe makes it the most desirable of locations. Locating within Bruntwood SciTech’s portfolio also provides customers access to its broader ecosystem of 1,450+ innovation-led businesses across the UK network that help to create pathways for partnership, talent and knowledge exchange that support research scaling and development.

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, said: "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 delivery of UK Biobank’s new headquarters was, in part, made possible by a £127.6 million investment from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund. 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: "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."

The development was supported by funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and delivered by Willmott Dixon, working with design and technical partners including BDP, Deloitte, DW Consulting, Silcock Leedham and I Want Plants.