Manchester Council bosses are set to approve plans to expand Manchester’s Science Park at a meeting this week.
The park, which dates back to 1978, was formed by the City Council and the then Victoria University of Manchester in order to capture benefits that could be gained through the creativity and knowledge available at the universities.
The property development Company Bruntwood joined the existing partners, Manchester City Council, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and Salford City Council in 2012
It is currently home to 150 domestic and international companies operating in a range of sectors, including: Bio-related / Healthcare, Business Services, Computer / Telecoms, Digital Media, Industrial Technologies, Technical Consultancy, Environmental, Public Sector and Social Enterprise.
It is internationally recognised as a groundbreaking centre of excellence and one of the most successful and fastest growing UK Science Parks outside of the South East.
The new plan will reshape the 9.3 hectare site, creating 250,000 sq ft of new floor space and 3,750 new full time jobs.
Expansion plans would involve new four to five storey buildings, event, conference and meeting space, walkways and outdoor space and a multi-storey car park.
Its growth is seen as key part of the vision set out by Corridor Manchester, the partnership set up to deliver economic growth and investment in the knowledge economy along the Corridor (the Oxford Road area of the City).
