Bruntwood SciTech & UK Biobank Celebrate Construction Milestone of £60m State-of-the-Art Lab Development, Greenheys at Manchester Science Park

Construction of the transformational £60m state-of-the-art lab and innovation hub at Manchester Science Park called Greenheys celebrates an important milestone, ‘topping out’ the new headquarters of UK Biobank and accompanying hub for scaling businesses looking to collaborate with the large-scale biomedical database and research resource company. 

The latest milestone marks a significant step forward for UK Biobank and Bruntwood SciTech - the joint venture between Bruntwood, L&G (Legal & General) and Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) – the UK’s largest property platform dedicated to the growth of the tech, innovation and science sectors. The new hub will provide much-needed , specialist lab and workspace in Manchester’s knowledge quarter within Europe’s largest clinical academic campus, and immediately neighbouring The University of Manchester. 

Led by construction firm Willmott Dixon, Greenheys will provide 131,000 sq ft of workspace across six floors, with spaces ranging from 2,500 sq ft bespoke suites to 22,000 sq ft whole floorplates, including specialist CL2 labs. Having reached this important milestone, the project is due to complete in Summer 2026.  

To mark the occasion, a ‘topping out’ ceremony was held by Bruntwood SciTech and Willmott Dixon, with senior leadership from Bruntwood SciTech’s partners Manchester City Council, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University all in attendance, alongside representatives from UK Biobank and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). 

UK Biobank is the world’s most comprehensive source of biomedical data available for health research in the public interest. Their laboratory space will boast cutting-edge facilities, including a latest-generation robotic freezer capable of storing and retrieving up to 20 million biological samples four times faster than current standards, revolutionising the pace of scientific discovery. The relocation will dramatically increase the speed at which UK Biobank can supply samples to researchers, allow for the storage of millions more samples as UK Biobank expands, and be more environmentally efficient.

The new home of R&D breakthroughs

In addition to UK Biobank’s new HQ, Greenheys has been designed to suit businesses operating across a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines, and ranging from scale ups to large companies who are looking to grow and develop their product offerings. A number of advanced technical features have been incorporated, including increased vibration resistance, piped gas distribution systems and enhanced cooling and ventilation systems. Sustainability sits at the heart of the development which aims to be net zero in construction and operation for the communal areas, alongside aiming for EPC A and a BREEAM Excellent rating. The building will be fitted with a number of key energy efficiency features including air source heat pumps, ventilation heat recovery, smart controls and metering, LED lighting and roof mounted solar panels. 

Businesses based at the Park will also have the opportunity to collaborate with The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and MFT through Bruntwood SciTech’s partnerships. This includes direct access to R&D and funding support, highly skilled talent, and clinical trial opportunities.

As such, the space is suitable for those operating in life sciences, including diagnostics, genomics, biotech and precision medicine, as well as energy, advanced materials, food science, chemistry and electronics. 

Greenheys will also redefine the landscape of specialist lab space by combining the luxury of boutique write up space with state-of-the-art high specification labs, with businesses also gaining access to the campus’ full range of amenities, including a gym, café, on-site parking and secure bike store, breakout and event spaces and meeting rooms, supporting a healthy working environment and lifestyle offering. 

Dr Kath Mackay, Chief Scientific Officer for Bruntwood SciTech, commented: “This important milestone at Greenheys brings us one step closer to supporting even more businesses within the scientific community to collaborate, scale and succeed. Specialist and flexible office and lab spaces are crucial to helping our nation’s innovation economy to grow, but only if they also have access to connect and partner with other like-minded businesses and leading academic institutions. Manchester Science Park offers companies the chance to do just that, and we are looking forward to welcoming them into the ecosystem we have created here, in the same hub as UK Biobank.”

Professor Sir Rory Collins, Principal Investigator and Chief Executive of UK Biobank, said: “This Topping Out ceremony marks an exciting step in UK Biobank joining Manchester’s thriving life sciences community. Our move will allow us to grow existing links with the University of Manchester, which began more than 20 years ago, and forge new links with organisations spanning academia and the commercial sector.

“This new facility will accelerate the public health discoveries UK Biobank is already enabling, by allowing us to deliver the generously donated biological samples and health data from our half a million participants even faster to scientists. 

“It is thanks to UKRI’s funding that we can build this new headquarters, working with Bruntwood SciTech and Willmott Dixon to create one of the first net zero lab spaces in the UK.”

Creating a positive impact on the local community 

Throughout the development of Greenheys, Bruntwood SciTech and Willmott Dixon have been working to engage with the local community around Manchester Science Park. The project has so far created 23 new employment opportunities and provided 340 apprentice weeks for four apprentices and 20 weeks of work experience. 

334 staff hours have also been donated and over £5,600 to seven community initiatives, including two placements to individuals on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) through ongoing work within North West prisons, providing meaningful work experience to help rebuild confidence and gain new skills. 

More broadly, Bruntwood SciTech is working closely with Manchester-based charity, Community Led Action and Savings Support, who work to support the top 2-5% most deprived areas in England. Initiatives include providing community groups in Hulme with free of charge access to event and meeting space at Manchester Science Park to reduce their costs and increase their capacity, all whilst ensuring the local community feel part of Manchester Science Park. 

Michael Poole-Sutherland, director for Willmott Dixon in the north, said: “We share Bruntwood SciTech’s passion for ensuring this cutting-edge and sustainable hub for science innovation is also a catalyst for changing lives and creating local opportunities. 

“This milestone celebration is a great opportunity for our team of science and commercial sector specialists and those that are starting their careers in construction on this project to reflect on the impact we’ve made to date and look ahead with excitement at the great work to come.”

Dr Jessica Boname, Associate Director for Infrastructure, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which has invested £127.6 million investment into UK Biobank from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund, part of which supports their new headquarters, said: "UKRI is proud to invest in cutting-edge infrastructure across the UK to drive discovery, strengthen innovative businesses and improve public services, creating a wide range of high-quality jobs.

“This new facility at Manchester Science Park will help to drive increased research and innovation on disease prevention and treatment. The insights enabled by UK Biobank have already driven change in the NHS and we look forward to seeing this powerful resource continue to thrive."

Greenheys is one of several developments by Bruntwood SciTech currently underway in Manchester as part of its commitment to providing world-class workspace, communities and support to assist the growth of the science, tech and innovation sectors. Other developments underway include Pall Mall, Thread Works and King’s House, while Citylabs 4.0 at the neighbouring sister campus to Manchester Science Park has recently completed.  

Bruntwood SciTech’s team for Greenheys includes Willmott Dixon, BDP, Deloitte, DW Consulting, Silcock Leedham, Walker Sime, East Coast Construction & Regeneration, NX Consulting, and I Want Plants.