Public consultation launches for new £1.7bn innovation district ID Manchester

Images of the illustrative masterplan for Manchester’s trailblazing new city centre innovation district have been revealed as ID Manchester’s draft Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) is published and a formal public consultation period begins.

Local residents, businesses and stakeholders are being invited to review the plans online from today, Friday 14 July. Throughout the summer, the public will have the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback through online channels and in-person community consultation events run by the ID Manchester partnership, a joint venture between The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech.

The ID Manchester partnership will be popping up in the city centre over the summer and holding a community event at Brunswick Parish Church on Wednesday 6 September. More information on the project and consultation activities can be found on the ID Manchester website, along with an online questionnaire to submit feedback.

The newly published draft SRF sets out the scale, ambition and opportunities that ID Manchester brings to the city and includes a series of place-based principles that will guide detailed plans for development and future planning applications, and ensure the vision for ID Manchester to be recognised as one of the world’s leading applied innovation districts is realised.

Illustrative images of what the district could look like are shared in the SRF, including a new civic square, a revitalised Vimto Park and the repurposing of key heritage assets such as the Sackville Street and Renold buildings.

The SRF also details ID Manchester’s aim to build a diverse and inclusive community of innovators, and transform what was a purpose-built academic campus into a welcoming and accessible new area of the city. Through creative repurposing of existing buildings and spaces, such as the Pariser and Renold buildings, a “meanwhile” use strategy has been implemented to bring early activation to the site ahead of redevelopment, with a mix of commercial office, lab and makerspace premises, pop-up retail and leisure spaces, events and programmed activities focused on science, technology, arts, culture and innovation.

Once completed, ID Manchester will create over 10,000 new jobs and bring significant economic, social and environmental benefits to the city. Totaling over 4 million sq ft, the illustrative masterplan has the potential to accommodate over 2 million sq ft of commercial and retail space, and over 1,500 homes.

The draft SRF for ID Manchester was approved for public consultation by Manchester City Council's Executive Committee on 28 June 2023. The public consultation will run from 14 July 2023 until 8 September 2023. Feedback and responses gathered through the ID Manchester online questionnaire and events will be reported to Manchester City Council as part of the consultation process. Responses to the consultation can also be made directly to Manchester City Council via its Consultation webpage.

Project partners The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech, a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General, have produced the SRF in collaboration with a world-class design team and specialist consultants, including: Allies and Morrison, SLA, Stanhope, Deloitte, ARUP, Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture, Useful Projects, Ekosgen and Arcadis.

Speaking on behalf of Bruntwood SciTech, Lou Cordwell OBE, ID Manchester Director said:
“We’re very excited to share our proposed plans for ID Manchester and hear from the public on their ideas for this new district, particularly on how we can start to build a community through ID Manchester and bring early life to the site through our ‘meanwhile’ activity. As well as becoming a world leading tech and science location that helps to put Manchester on the global innovation map, we want to create an exemplar for inclusive innovation. Close collaboration with local residents and businesses will be integral to ensuring communities across Greater Manchester benefit from the future success of ID Manchester.”

John Holden, Associate Vice-President for Major Special Projects, The University of
Manchester said: “This is a key milestone in delivering our vision for ID Manchester and we’re
excited to share our plans with the public. ID Manchester will see the transformation of the
University's North campus, breathing new life into the site with a renewed purpose to drive positive economic, social and environmental change through innovation. For over a century, the site has been a centre for science, teaching and innovation, and ID Manchester will build on that history. We look forward to engaging with the public and the University’s stakeholders to hear their views on how ID Manchester can benefit residents and businesses across Greater Manchester.”

Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council said: “Manchester remains a fast growing and
constantly changing city that puts people at its heart. ID Manchester will add to the collective strength, innovation and learning that has ensured the wider Oxford Road Corridor is a place of global renown.
This is an opportunity for our residents to input and help guide this development through the pre- planning stages and influence the birth of a new neighbourhood in our city centre. I would urge our residents and businesses to make their voices heard.”