Green light for £18m sports research centre

PLANNERS have given the green light for a pioneering sports health and science research facility in Manchester, the first of its kind in the UK.

Based in the Etihad Campus, next to Manchester City FC’s new Football Academy The Manchester Institute of Health and Performance (MIHP) will cost £18m to build, with funding coming from the football club and Manchester City Council and Sport England.

With planning permission now in place, preparatory work is starting on site and MIHP is scheduled to open in early 2016.

The institute will be a multi-disciplinary diagnostic, education, research and development facility and has been more than five years in the planning and research phase.

It will be operated by HCA, the private healthcare company and will be one of only nine IOC research centres worldwide specialising in the prevention of injury and protection of athlete health.

Top teams will collaborate with and benefit from MIHP, including Manchester City Football Club, Manchester City Women’s Football Club, British Cycling, GB Disability swimming and GB Taekwondo, which are part of an increasing group of elite athletes based in East Manchester.

Cllr Jeff Smith, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “The Beswick community hub will become an incredible resource for both the local community and city’s elite sports men and women.

“The Manchester Institute for Health and Performance is the next phase of these ambitious plans that will take east Manchester from being not only a world renowned centre for sport and leisure, but also a world leader in sport and health science and research.
“Once established, we hope that MIHP will attract world leading clinical and research groups to the city.”

Brian Marwood, managing director of City Football Services, said: “Having MIHP on the Etihad Campus, in the heart of East Manchester and in the shadow of the Etihad Stadium, provides a unique and highly valuable opportunity to collaborate with Olympic and Paralympic sports organisations.

“This brings with it an opportunity to benefit from the best possible support and knowledge sharing which will be of real help to our playing and support staff here in Manchester and for our sister Clubs in the US, Australia and Asia. The dual function of MIHP as a world leading resource for both the local community and our elite athletes is something we are very proud to be part of.”