The University of Manchester has launched an international competition to find a development and investment partner for a £1.5bn “innovation district”, which it hopes will become the “innovation capital of Europe”.
Since it was presented at the Mipim international property exhibition in March, the university has increased the available development space for “ID Manchester” to 370,000 sq m. The site will include the 60,000 sq m grade II-listed Sackville Street Building and will be adjacent to Piccadilly station.
Dame Nancy Rothwell, the university’s president, said: “ID Manchester will create a world-class innovation district situated in the heart of Manchester and alongside the university, where we will nurture the next generation of game-changing businesses and bring huge economic benefits to our city region and beyond.”
Diana Hampson, the director of estates, said: “ID Manchester will be a unique neighbourhood. Our vision draws on Manchester’s eco-system of ideas, discovery, research and development, and ID Manchester will provide the canvas on which all those strands can come together to take urban regeneration to a whole new level.
“ID Manchester will be where our most valuable discoveries today, are tried, tested and developed into the technology, buildings and commerce of tomorrow.”
Images: Renders of ID Manchester (University of Manchester)
