£60m boost for biomed hubs in city

£60m is to be invested in a major expansion of Citylabs, Manchester Science Partnerships’ (MSP) biomedical centre of excellence in partnership with Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT).

The science and technology park operator has announced plans to create two new developments – Citylabs 2.0 and Citylabs 3.0 – on the CMFT campus located on the corner of Oxford Road and Hathersage Road, opposite Whitworth Park.

The developments will provide space for biomedical companies to grow and co-create new health products, in collaboration with the NHS and academia.

The first Citylabs building opened in 2014 after a £25m redevelopment and was fully let within 15 months.

The £25m Citylabs 2.0 development will comprise 85,000 sq ft of lab and office space. Subject to planning permission being granted, construction work will begin in spring 2017, with completion expected in summer 2018.

Citylabs 3.0 will include both the development of new buildings and integration with Old Saint Mary’s Hospital, an existing listed Victorian building, comprising 100,000 sq ft. Construction is planned to start in summer 2018 and is due to be completed in 2020.

The £35m project includes the restoration of a currently unused former chapel on the site, which is ear-marked for a café with the potential for meeting room facilities.

When both of the new developments are completed and fully let they are expected to generate £100m of economic growth, creating 750 jobs.

The project is the first to be delivered by the partnership between MSP’s parent company Bruntwood and CMFT. Announced in March, the partnership will support the delivery of clinical care, research and innovation, as well as the future development of CMFT’s estate.

Rowena Burns, chief executive of Manchester Science Partnerships, said it was fitting to be making the announcement as part of EuroScience Open Forum conference (ESOF), which is being held at Manchester Central and runs alongside this week’s City of Science Festival.

She added: “Our investment will help create fresh ideas, partnerships and scientific discovery. Above all, Manchester and the North West offer investors outstanding access to talent, knowledge and clinical facilities.”

Steve Mycio OBE, chairman of Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “By working together in this way with industry, the NHS can ensure health technologies are developed that deliver better outcomes more efficiently to meet current and future needs of our patients and healthcare providers.

“Citylabs 2.0 and 3.0 is our first scheme under the strategic property partnership that CMFT has formed with Bruntwood. Its purpose is to help ensure that our hospital building and facilities are developed in a flexible and modern way to facilitate early access to new diagnostics and treatments.

“Earlier this year our campus received designation as a Life Sciences Enterprise Zone. This will make Citylabs and our campus an even more attractive place for business, especially spin outs from the hospitals and universities.”

CGI of citylabs 2.0

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