Two new office blocks to be built at Manchester Airport

A full planning application for two new 92,000 sq ft office buildings and accompanying multi-story car park at the £1billion Airport City development project have been submitted.

The plans also include extensive landscaping and a new ‘landing’ area for a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the M56 spur road, linking the site to the airport’s transport interchange and terminals.

The planning application comes on the back of the recent announcement by The Hut Group which agreed a major deal to develop one million sq ft of office space as well as studio space at the same site.

Two new office buildings will be built at the site which will help to address the lack of Grade-A office accommodation in Greater Manchester.

The first of the two office buildings could be complete by early-to-mid 2021.

Designed by architects 5Plus, the two six-storey buildings will be almost identical appearance and layout, with a glass and steel-look design inspired by the Pepsi-Cola Corporation World Headquarters in New York.

The two buildings will offer 184,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, along with ground floor amenities including co-working spaces and cycle storage facilities.

There will also be a wide range of cafés, restaurants and gyms, supporting by a rolling programme of pop-up food amenities.

The new multi-storey car park will provide a total of 1,497 car parking spaces across eight levels for office workers and hotel guests – along with ground floor commercial units.

It will feature ‘pleated’ anodised aluminium panels on the exterior that are perforated to allow natural light to enter during the day.

Adam White, of MAG Property and Airport City JV Partner, said: “We anticipate a major surge in occupier demand at Airport City, following the recent landmark announcement with The Hut Group, which will help to deliver a critical mass of up to 10,000 people.

“On the back of this momentum and linked to the growth of the airport and its global connectivity, we are now progressing development further by submitting planning permission for two new office buildings that will also help to address the lack of supply of Grade A office accommodation in the city region.

“Airport City will bridge the market between Manchester city centre, the wider Greater Manchester conurbation and Cheshire, complementing their offer with strong car parking ratios, up to 9 trains an hour to city centre and a significant price differential.

“With the approved plans for a new hotel district set to deliver in the region of 1,200 new beds by 2021, we’re taking major steps forward towards making the years of hard work invested in this ambitious project become a reality – creating a new commercial business hub, with its benefits set to be felt across the wider region.”

Phil Doyle, Director of 5plus architects said: “This is a pivotal moment in the history of Airport City.

“The hard yards put in by everyone involved over the last few years on the project has already delivered some significant investment in infrastructure and priming the site for the buildings to come. Our masterplan has proved flexible enough to meet the demands of the redevelopment of T2 and major occupier led interest and the ebb and flow of the economy in general.

“With the imminent delivery of the first office building, multi-storey car park and, crucially, the footbridge and public realm that step change in place making and perceptions is about to be realised. We’re tremendously excited and looking forward to delivering these buildings and the next stage of the transformation of Airport City.”

The proposals include an extension to a previously approved pedestrian and cycle bridge over the M56 spur road, providing wider connections between Wythenshawe and the Airport area.

The addition to this bridge will provide a ‘landing’ area into the new district and a direct link off the bridge into the multi-storey car park.

The developments outlined in the planning submission are located next to the recently completed £15million ‘Enterprise Way’ and are the first commercial buildings to be brought forward on the site.