Manchester’s innovation landscape is set for significant transformation as Bruntwood SciTech delivers a portfolio of major developments across the city.
The UK’s largest property platform dedicated to the growth of the tech, digital, innovation and science sectors is behind six key projects that will collectively add over 700,000 sq ft and £243m of specialist workspace to Manchester.
Each development targets distinct sectors within the innovation economy, aligning to Bruntwood SciTech’s mission to support 2,600 high-growth businesses by 2033.
Here Prolific North casts an eye over the six developments that are set to reshape the city’s landscape.
Citylabs 4.0: A world class health innovation hub
The £42 million Citylabs 4.0 development, which launched in March 2025, represents a significant expansion of the Citylabs campus – a joint venture between Bruntwood SciTech and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). Adding 125,000 sq ft of specialist space, the development is strategically located on the MFT Oxford Road Hospital Campus, part of Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor – and the largest clinical academic campus in Europe.
With flexible lab and office space available, businesses located here will join a community of life science and healthcare companies on the campus, including Qiagen’s Global Centre of Excellence for Precision Medicine, which established its base at Citylabs 2.0 in 2021.
What sets Citylabs 4.0 apart is its immediate proximity and access to five hospitals, including Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, offering direct connections for clinical collaboration and trials through Bruntwood SciTech’s unique partnership. The location also provides access to a substantial talent pool, with 13,000 healthcare jobs in the surrounding area, including 6,500 clinicians, plus connections to The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University’s research capabilities and 32,200 STEM students.
No.3 Circle Square: The latest addition to the city’s fastest growing digital and tech community
The £87 million No.3 Circle Square development opens this Summer, adding 267,000 sq ft of high-quality workspace to Manchester’s thriving knowledge quarter. The building has already secured major lettings, with AutoTrader set to join the neighbourhood, alongside Avalere Health who recently announced moving to the neighbouring No.1 Circle Square, in a community which also includes Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Uber, Bosch and Roku.
Sustainability sits at the core of this development, with a net zero carbon construction footprint, and the development benefits from proximity to Circle Square’s extensive amenity offering, including a diverse food and drink scene, innovative fitness facilities at Jetts Fitness, and Symphony Park – one of Manchester’s largest new city parks in generations.
Thread Works: Where ideas intertwine
Across four of Manchester’s most iconic industrial buildings on the corner of Portland Street and Oxford Street, Thread Works brings together diverse businesses all looking to grow. The cluster’s hub – grade II listed 117-119 Portland Street – is undergoing a £6m transformation, set to complete in Spring 2025.
Located at the gateway to Manchester’s knowledge quarter, the 35,000 sq ft 117-119 Portland Street is part of a cluster that is already home to digital and tech focussed businesses including Social Chain, Summize, Flight Story, Leap, CMSPI and Embryo.
Dating back to 1886, the building retains many original features, with the redesign blending exposed bricks and beams with warm, textured interiors.
Thread Works offers over 110k sq ft of flexible workspace with suites from 640 sq ft to 10k sq ft. All businesses locating to Thread Works will have access to its brand new facilities including two communal lounges, a bookable auditorium, and on-site gym and changing facilities.
King’s House: Heritage look, modern feel
With completion scheduled for July 2025, the £13 million redevelopment of King’s House will transform 38,000 sq ft of space in the St Mary’s Parsonage area. The project forms part of Manchester City Council’s Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the district, which includes plans to improve Parsonage Gardens and redevelop several surrounding buildings.
Drawing inspiration from the building’s heritage, King’s House will feature a blend of collaborative and traditional workspace alongside a communal lounge, break-out spaces, and wellness amenities. The design celebrates the building’s period features, incorporating rustic woods, luxury metals and patterned finishes with biophilia and elegant colour schemes.
Surrounded by the best of Manchester’s retail and restaurants – San Carlo is situated on the ground floor – the prestigious location is no ordinary address and is perfect for client entertaining and after work drinks.
Sustainability is again central to the redevelopment, with the building set to be net zero in operation. Environmental features include new double-glazed windows, perimeter wall insulation, mixed-mode ventilation, air source heat pumps and a fully electric power system. These improvements will be complemented by smart building technology, including air quality indicators and energy monitoring systems.
Pall Mall: Bringing New Life to King Street
Set for completion later this year, the £30 million transformation of the Grade II-listed Pall Mall represents a significant milestone for Manchester’s prestigious King Street and has sustainability at its heart. The 120,000 sq ft development retains its existing structure, avoiding approximately 7,900 tonnes of carbon emissions that would have resulted from a new build – equivalent to 26,000 flights between London and New York. Sustainable features include air source heat pumps, an all-electric heating and cooling system, and mechanical ventilation heat recovery units.
A vibrant public square is also to be created – Pollen Square – transforming a formerly underused area into a vibrant multi-use public space. Named after Francis Pollen of the architectural practice Brett, Pollen & Teggin, responsible for the original design of the building, the square will feature an on-site cafe and new landscaping.
Additional amenities include a rooftop garden with retractable roof for year-round use, a gym, EV charging points, and extensive cycling facilities. A second phase of transformation is also due, with the neighbouring Pinnacle building, which Bruntwood SciTech acquired last year.
Greenheys at Manchester Science Park: Lab space of the future
The £60 million Greenheys development is scheduled for completion in Summer 2026, creating 131,000 sq ft of specialist laboratory and write-up space. The facility will become the headquarters for UK Biobank and also include new Containment Level 2 (CL2) laboratories for scaling life science companies to locate to Manchester Science Park and collaborate with UK Biobank.
As part of Bruntwood SciTech’s wider campus strategy, the development will strengthen Manchester’s position as a hub for science research and innovation, complementing the nearby Citylabs campus and expanding the city’s capacity for advanced biomedical and genomic research.
