The detailed masterplan created by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), sets out the vision to transform Manchester Airport from a transport hub into an international business destination in its own right. The 150-acre regeneration scheme will deliver over five-million square feet of new high-quality business premises, with the aim of attracting international companies that would not previously have located in the region, or even the UK.

The detailed ‘stage two’ Masterplan for Airport City identifies the creation of two core Airport City zones. The first is a development area adjacent to the airport’s existing railway station and to north of the M56, which will focus on hotel, office, retail and advanced manufacturing uses – whilst a second area adjacent to the existing cargo centre at Junction 6 of the M56, will focus on freight and logistics uses. In total, over the next 12-15 years, Airport City will deliver:

• 1.5 million sqft of offices
• 650,000 sq ft advanced manufacturing
• Up to 100,000sqft of retail and leisure
• Approximately 2,500 hotel beds
• 1.4 million sq ft logistics & warehousing

Sustainability and connectivity are identified in the Masterplan as the key elements in the design – the main central business district of Airport City to the north of the M56 will be linked to the airport terminals and The Station by a series of wide, landscaped ‘green bridges’ based on New York’s elevated urban park, the Highline. This will ensure that every part of the northern Airport City zone is within an eight-minute walk from the airport’s coach, bus and rail hub. A new Metrolink line to the airport and Wythenshawe is now under-construction and will also serve Airport City when it opens 2016.

A landscaped ‘Central Park’ area of over 800m long, featuring a number of pavilions and a large-scale event space, will form the centrepiece of Airport City, along with traditional components of a conventional city centre such as retail outlets, coffee houses, bars and restaurants. The Central Park will also integrate with the existing green space at Painswick Park in order to provide greater connectivity from Wythenshawe’s Woodhouse Park housing estate so that Painswick Park benefits from a series of regenerative enhancements as a result.

Charlie Cornish, Chief Executive of Manchester Airports Group (MAG), said: “Airport City is a concept we have been developing for a number of years and we are now at a critical stage in the project’s life as we bring it to the market and commence phase one. We were enthused by the Government’s recognition of Airport City’s potential when it was named as the focal point of their new Enterprise Zone, as we feel that this project presents a generational opportunity not only for the wider region, but nationally in order to attract new investment to the UK during the economic downturn.”

Manchester Airports Group is currently preparing to undertake the first stage delivery of the project, which will involve the creation of key road elements, landscaping, infrastructure and utility provision, all of which will help enable the first phase of development plots.

The first phase delivery area is anticipated to create up to 1.85 million square feet of new business space. An ‘Expression of Interest Document’ detailing the Airport City opportunity will be officially released through an open competitive process in February 2012, as Manchester Airports Group seeks to engage potential development partners to assist in the delivery of the project.

Businesses interested in locating at Airport City, should register an interest via the MAG Developments website at www.magdevelopments.co.uk

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