Chinese occupier close to 80,000 sq ft deal at Airport City

A CHINESE business is in “advanced negotiations” over taking 80,000 sq ft of logistics space at the planned Airport City scheme in Manchester.

An update on the development, prepared ahead of a Greater Manchester Combined Authority meeting next month, shows a recent promotional roadshow to China attracted a significant amount of interest.

Manchester Airports Group is looking for tenants and possible investors for the £800m mixed-use scheme which it is developing in a joint venture with the Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG).

A report, written by Manchester City Council chief executive Sr Howard Bernstein, said there was “clearly significant potential” to secure Chinese occupiers.

He added: “Having only engaged so far on a very limited basis, the evidence shows good potential to drive strong volumes from this market. The Airport City JV Partnership are working through an active list of potential targets generated from the Roadshow, ExPo and through BCEG’s networks.

“Proposals have been sent to four businesses since the roadshow (totalling 140,000 sq ft of logistics space), with one occupier is advanced negotiations to take 80,000 sq ft of logistics space. A number of these businesses have already visited Manchester and some of them are still to come.”

Airport City will consist of two sections – a world logistics hub to the south of the airport and a business district to the north that will have 1.2 million sq ft of offices, 530,000 sq ft of manufacturing space and 1,300 hotel beds on a 65-acre site. The 15-year project is expected to create 16,000 jobs.

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