MAG appoints Atkins as Airport City director
JOHN Atkins has been appointed as director of Airport City, the £650m Enterprise Zone development project at Manchester Airport.
Atkins was the managing director of MAG Developments but in his new role will lead on all aspects of the Airport City project.
He will also support the wider Enterprise Zone as programme director and work closely with Manchester City Council and other landowners on the programme.
MAG said that no new managing director would be appointed but that under the new operating model, Stephanie Mullenger, currently business development director for MAG Developments, will pick up the mantle with regard to MAG’s existing £335m property services portfolio.
The appointment comes as MAG prepares to formally approach the market for development partners for Airport City, its a 150-acre scheme located to the north and west of the existing airport site.
It will provide over 4 million sq ft of new business space over the next ten to 15 years, including Grade-A office space, hotel and leisure uses, retail, manufacturing and logistics accommodation.
An ‘expression of interest document’ detailing the Airport City opportunity will be officially released through an open competitive process early in 2012. A new marketing suite is also to be unveiled on site at Manchester Airport in January to help demonstrate the viability of the Airport City scheme to interested parties.
John Atkins said: “Next year will be significant as we look to secure planning permission and bring the project to market. The site already has the potential to deliver a unique product for the North of England and is well served by ground transportation links with developable land assets in close proximity. Our target market is global businesses who are seeking highly connected locations and we must ensure we have a first class product in order to attract them here.”
Charlie Cornish, chief executive of the Manchester Airports Group, said: “Since we first began working on the project several years ago, John has been at the forefront of formulating our strategy on Airport City. As the project starts to accelerate as we enter the first year of site development, it is vital we have the right people in place to take us forward. Airport City is a long-term project that will take shape over the next ten to 15 years and we have huge ambitions for the opportunity and the potential it harnesses for the North.”
