Top 10 investable I&L projects: Mix Manchester, Manchester, UK
Project overview
Mix Manchester is a major new science and innovation manufacturing campus next to Manchester Airport. Spanning 60 acres, the development will deliver around 2 million sq ft of advanced manufacturing, R&D, laboratory and office space, supported by hotel and amenity uses.
As the UK’s only science and manufacturing campus immediately adjacent to an international airport, the project combines global connectivity with scale, providing occupiers with unrivalled opportunities for growth in the North West of England.
The opportunity
The campus is being designed around the requirements of science and innovation occupiers, offering a mix of advanced manufacturing units, laboratories, R&D centres and flexible office accommodation.
Building types can be tailored to meet end-user specifications, ensuring occupiers in advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences can scale up and expand on-site.
Retail and hospitality uses will complement the core employment spaces, creating a full-service innovation environment. The project is supported by sustainable transport links, including direct rail connections to Manchester Piccadilly in just 13 minutes, and benefits from proximity to a 600,000 sq ft freight and logistics hub with airside access.
The financials
The development provides capacity for up to 2 million sq ft of commercial space, including 80,000 sq ft of “soft landing“ space for new occupiers. A £15 million link road has already been completed, unlocking the site and connecting it to Manchester Airport and the regional motorway network.
Planning activities are scheduled to conclude in 2025, with work expected to start on site in 2026. The gross development value will be underpinned by long-term demand from high-growth sectors, with opportunities for occupiers, investors and development partners across multiple asset classes.
Project sponsor
Mix Manchester is being delivered through a joint venture partnership of Columbia Threadneedle, Manchester Airports Group, Beijing Construction Engineering Group International, and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, with support from Manchester City Council.
Significance
The project will reinforce Greater Manchester’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing
and life sciences, creating a campus of international standing next to the UK’s third-largest airport. By offering purpose-built space for research and production, Mix Manchester will attract global occupiers and stimulate regional supply chains, driving employment growth and strengthening the city region’s innovation ecosystem.
Its multimodal connectivity and integration with existing freight infrastructure will also support the UK’s wider ambitions for trade, net-zero logistics and industrial competitiveness.
The pitch
Mix Manchester is an opportunity to invest in the UK’s most strategically connected science and manufacturing campus. With 2 million sq ft of development potential, world-class transport links, and a sponsor group combining international investors, local institutions and city government, the project offers exceptional prospects for long-term growth.
Occupiers in advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences sectors will benefit from bespoke facilities in a location adjacent to the airport, while investors and development partners will gain exposure to one of the North West’s most ambitious regeneration and innovation projects.
