Manchester’s new £1.7bn innovation district and neighbourhood, Sister, has announced plans for the next phase of its transformative redevelopment as it launches a new public consultation.
Sister’s first major development plot, Zone C, will mark a significant step in the masterplan, bringing forward a large amount of new commercial space and public realm and driving the next stage of Sister’s vision following the opening of its first building, the Renold Innovation Hub, in Autumn 2024.
Located between London Road and Altrincham Street, on the edge of Manchester city centre, Zone C will see the creation of over half a million sq ft of flexible commercial space across two new buildings. Designed by architects Allies and Morrison, the 12-storey and 20-storey buildings will offer a mix of cutting-edge workspaces and flexible leisure and community spaces, with a central atrium connecting the two buildings.
Alongside these new buildings, Sister will also prioritise the incorporation of two of the site’s listed heritage assets into this next phase. This will include the integration of the Hollaway Wall into a large community space, designed to breathe new life into the area and encourage more public interaction with the currently underutilised Grade II listed structure.
The plans will also see the activation of the Grade II listed viaduct arches, with the introduction of new retail and leisure operators, alongside community uses. In a major boost for city centre commuters, this area will also deliver new pedestrianised access on Altrincham Street, improving walking and cycling routes connecting Piccadilly Station and Mayfield Park to the Oxford Road Corridor knowledge quarter, and improving the safety and accessibility for all visitors.
Community use and public access is at the heart of the designs, with the creation of a new public square and outdoor spaces, designed by landscape architects SLA, that will help to transform the area into a vibrant destination, firmly cementing Sister as a new go-to neighbourhood in the city centre and creating a more welcoming experience for those visiting the area.
Interspersed throughout the area, there will be new planting, ample seating and green spaces to promote biodiversity and wellbeing for local residents. The new outdoor public square at the centre of the plans will provide opportunities for large-scale events, activities and cultural activations to be hosted.
This major phase follows the approval of the ID Manchester Strategic Regeneration Framework, which was adopted by Manchester City Council in December 2023 and laid out the plans for the overarching vision for the underutilised area of the city.
Previously known as ID Manchester, Sister is a joint venture between The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech. The project will see the transformation of the University’s former North campus into a 4 million sq ft globally competitive innovation district and will help elevate Manchester’s position as a national centre for science and technology. This progressive partnership combines world-class research and innovation expertise with the UK’s largest property platform dedicated to the growth of the science, tech and innovation sectors.
The significant new workspaces at Zone C will support the city region’s ambitious economic growth plans and will enable the continued investment and delivery of new jobs in key industry sectors across science and technology.
The new workspace development at Sister will have flexible spaces capable of catering to both large global organisations new to the region, as well as local, growing start-ups and university spinouts.
This phase of the development is expected to drive considerable economic benefit and create over 4,000 new jobs, as well as skills development and training opportunities for local people in future-facing industries, and forms a large portion of the 10,000 jobs that Sister will ultimately deliver once completed.
Key to delivering Sister’s long-term economic impact is the city region’s strong local leadership and support from industry investment, including through the Bruntwood SciTech joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund.
As it launches this next phase, Sister is encouraging the public to share their views and attend in-person consultation events to ensure that local views are captured and considered throughout the planning and design process.
The consultation will run from Monday 17th February to Sunday 9th March.
Sam Darby, development director for Sister and Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Following the successful opening of the Renold Innovation Hub last Autumn, we’re really excited to now be getting underway with the next stage of our ambitious plans. Zone C marks a significant part of the site and will truly change the face of the neighbourhood moving forward.
“That’s why we want to hear from as many local people as possible to understand what they would like to see from our plans and how we can create a place that not only benefits the wider city region through job creation and opportunity, but also creates a vibrant neighbourhood where people want to live and socialise as well.
“Our consultation period has been designed to be accessible and we’re hoping to hear from a real cross section of the local community to make our plans truly inclusive.
“Our plans are ambitious, but also sensitive to the area and its heritage. Through this next phase we want to create a place that provides opportunity, promotes innovation and brings the community together. Sister is a place for everyone and we’re looking forward to continuing our work with the public to make sure it continues to deliver.”