Technology

Posted on May 7, 2019 by staff

Manchester tech ‘neighbourhood’ gets £54m in next phase

Technology

A new science and tech location in Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor has received a £54m investment from Bruntwood SciTech.

Described as a ‘neighbourhood’, Circle Square is a joint venture between Bruntwood SciTech and Select Property Group.

Bruntwood SciTech – the 50:50 partnership between property company Bruntwood and Legal & General – is bringing forward the next phase of its commercial plans at Circle Square, with work on a new 220,000 sq ft, 12 storey building beginning, subject to planning approval, in January 2020.

It provides 1.2 million sq ft of workspace offering a mix of co-working, collaboration space and small suites; 1,700 new homes; 100,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, two hotels; 250,000 sq ft of public realm and car parking for 1,014 vehicles.

It is already home to the re-launched Manchester Technology Centre which offers a specialist incubator for start-ups and entrepreneurs focussing on data science and innovation and a new pop up retail and leisure destination – Hatch.

Circle Square’s first two commercial buildings – No.1 and No.2 Circle Square – are currently under construction. Global technology company Hewlett Packard Enterprise announced in December 2018 it is to bring 300 employees to No.1 Circle Square, in order to capitalise on its collaborative community of leaders in technology, business, arts and science.

The new build, 220,000 sq ft No.3 Circle Square will offer leased office space over 12 storeys. The design process is currently underway, led by architects FCBS, who designed No.1 and No.2 Circle Square.

“With No.1 & No.2 Circle Square opening in Summer 2020, we are delighted to be in a position, where the level of interest and excitement around what we are creating at Circle Square, has led to us accelerating the development of No.3 Circle Square,” said Tom Renn, Managing Director, Bruntwood SciTech – Manchester.

“Circle Square will be an extraordinary place, full of life and activity. A place where incredible companies, working in some of the most interesting and disruptive digital technology sectors, like Cyber, FinTech, IOT and big data, will work alongside each other and where residents and visitors to Manchester, will come to experience the best of our cities cultural offer, through independent retailers and the programme of festivals and events that we plan to host in Manchester’s newest city park.”

“Critically companies that we are speaking to are really identifying with Circle Square as a top location in the city to access talent and transport and with our network as one of the largest tech communities in the North.”