Go ahead for Greenheys redevelopment at Manchester Science Park

The design will transform the building into a state-of-the-art, six-storey development for life sciences businesses working in diagnostics, genomics, biotech and precision medicine. 

Specialist design features include increased vibration resistance and floor loading, the provision of piped gas distribution systems and enhanced cooling and ventilation systems. BDP has embraced the latest innovations in building materials and environmental technology, with the building set to achieve net zero carbon in construction and operation in its shared spaces, whilst reducing embodied carbon through smart specification and supplier engagement. The development is also targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating.

The building provides a variety of speculative laboratory and supporting office spaces. It enables world-class design capabilities for life science and medtech organisations. It also offers the amenities and spaces that inspire and facilitate collaborative working between like-minded businesses with high security access, 100GB superfast connectivity, food and beverage stations and shared breakout and social areas. 

Greenheys will have 62,000 sq ft of space available for scale-up life science businesses, who can take advantage of being situated in the heart of Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor innovation district and one of the UK’s most established science and tech campuses. It will also be the new headquarters for prominent life sciences company, UK Biobank which is the world’s most significant source of data and biological samples for health research.

Gary Wilde, Architect Director at BDP, said: “The redevelopment of Greenheys is one of the most forward thinking, creative building projects in the scitech industry in the North. With more emphasis on innovation and life sciences in the region, the ability to design this new building which optimises use of the existing site to deliver flexible laboratory spaces shows that we are designing for a prosperous future. It also demonstrates the creativity of Bruntwood SciTech and its commitment to the growth of this industry in the area.”

“We are very excited to see a company like UK Biobank occupying a significant part of the space and we know that it, and other life science organisations, will be able to use this fantastic building as it is meant to be used – for world-leading research and discovery.”

The Greenheys redevelopment is the third phase of the Park’s masterplan to grow the campus to 1m sq ft and is expected to open in spring 2026, with enabling works beginning later this summer. BDP is delivering architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and acoustics consultancy.