The landmark Greenheys development at Manchester Science Park has been completed, offering 131,000 square foot of specialist laboratory and write-up space for the next generation of life sciences and tech innovation businesses.
Bruntwood SciTech, a joint venture between Bruntwood, L&G and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, has developed Greenheys to centre on flexible Containment Level 2 (CL2) labs. These spaces, delivered on time and on budget by Willmott Dixon, offer dedicated fume extraction units, high-spec LEV capacity and advanced air handling designed to facilitate the most sophisticated analytical and research work.
This is supported by first-rate operational facilities including high-security access, clinical waste and chemical storage, goods-in areas with dedicated service lifts and loading bays engineered for the logistical demands of moving samples, equipment and materials at scale. The BREEAM Excellent, fully electric development is also home to Manchester city centre’s largest living wall, made of a combination of 160,000 plants over 1,700 sq metres of space.
Greenheys will form a cornerstone of Manchester’s expanding innovation-led sectors, which are forecast to grow at above-average rates. Delivered on time and on budget by Willmott Dixon, the facility’s design has been expertly tailored to the specific needs and exacting standards of businesses driving innovation in some of the most advanced sectors. It becomes part of Bruntwood SciTech's strategic infrastructure across Manchester's Oxford Road Corridor Knowledge Quarter, which includes Manchester Science Park, the Citylabs campus and Circle Square - a cluster specifically designed to support science and tech innovation at scale.
Among Greenheys’ first tenants will be UK Biobank, which will use Greenheys as its new headquarters and research facility. The organisation is currently preparing to relocate 11 million biological samples from its ultra-low temperature automated storage in Stockport, as well as half of its nearly 400-strong team. With this relocation currently underway, customers at Greenheys will benefit from co-location and collaboration opportunities with both UK Biobank and similar industry leaders, not only at the new innovation hub, but across Manchester Science Park and the wider Bruntwood SciTech network.
UK Biobank’s decision to establish new headquarters at Manchester Science Park reflects the importance of the Oxford Road Corridor as a globally significant research cluster. The move, supported by substantial investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), enables UK Biobank to consolidate and expand its research infrastructure, increasing the capacity and reach of its mission to improve the health of humankind.
Professor Sir Rory Collins, Chief Executive and Principal Investigator of UK Biobank, said: "The completion of our Manchester home marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for UK Biobank. Our dedicated laboratory team will soon be able to process millions of samples from our generous participants four times faster than before, accelerating the pace of health research. Being located alongside the University and a thriving life sciences community will also create new opportunities for collaboration and partnership across the wider UK Biobank team, while providing a modern, purpose-built working environment for colleagues. With thanks to UKRI’s transformative funding, I’m eager to see what discoveries our new home will help unlock and the benefits these will bring to our understanding and treatment of disease.”