A new £60m laboratory building has opened at Manchester Science Park, marking a significant step in the fight against major diseases like cancer and dementia. The facility, named Greenheys, is a state-of-the-art research centre and workspace located in Hulme, designed to support scientists tackling modern medicine's biggest challenges.
Cutting-edge facilities and major tenant
Specialist developers Bruntwood SciTech have completed the 131,000 sq ft building, equivalent to almost two football pitches, off Greenheys Lane. The building includes lab sample storage, meeting rooms, break-out spaces, and laboratories. Much of the space is set to become the new headquarters for research firm UK BioBank, which will relocate around half of its 400 staff and 11 million biological samples from its current site in Stockport.
Economic and health impact
Greenheys is expected to host around 750 jobs and generate an estimated £53.2m in value for the area, according to Bruntwood. The facility will support groundbreaking research on sleep disturbances, metabolisms, and the root causes of diseases such as cancer, dementia, and heart disease.
Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “Greenheys is a major addition to the Northern Growth Corridor’s science and innovation infrastructure, bringing the specialist laboratory capacity needed to support world-leading research and help ambitious businesses grow.” He added, “This is exactly the kind of long-term investment in capability that can attract more talent and private investment to our region, create highly skilled jobs and translate the North’s research strengths into economic growth and better health outcomes.”
Community amenities and pub rescue
Those working at Greenheys will have access to an on-campus cafe, gym, and the historic local pub, The Abbey. The pub, formerly known as The Old Abbey Taphouse, had closed last year, but with investment from Bruntwood SciTech and Now Wave, the firm behind YES, New Century, and White Hotel, it has been rescued and reopened last month. Now Wave covered most of the refurbishment and relaunch costs.
