Manchester City Council wants to buy Columbia Threadneedle Investments’ 50% shareholding in Mix Manchester, the joint venture partnership delivering commercial property projects next to Manchester Airport.
Manchester City Council (MCC), and existing shareholder Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), are in talks, it was confirmed today (4 June 2025).
The City Council said it wants the site to be a centre of excellence for research, science, tech and manufacturing.
Gareth Jackson, group property director at Manchester Airports Group, said: “We can confirm we are in talks with MCC and GMPF regarding their potential investment in Mix Manchester. We believe this represents an incredible opportunity to be part of one of most exciting science, innovation, and manufacturing developments in the UK and we look forward to releasing more information regarding this very soon.”
Manchester City Council’s Executive Committee approved amends to the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) in November last year, following an eight-week period of public consultation with local residents, community groups, councillors and stakeholders.
Bev Craig (Credit LabourList)
Leader of the Council Bev Craig said: “Mix Manchester is an ambitious next phase for Manchester Airport and Wythenshawe, and another important engine of economic growth for the city, which will deliver thousands of high-quality jobs creating great opportunities for our residents.
“Mix is perfectly located to provide a platform for high growth industry to thrive and to continue to build on the city’s reputation as a centre of excellence for research, science, tech and manufacturing. This investment also complements the wider regeneration of Wythenshawe, including the transformation of the town centre and infrastructure investment at the hospital.
“Our ambition is for Mix Manchester to be an exemplar for public private collaboration, maximising the social and economic impact for the people of Manchester, while generating financial returns for the city.”
The site aims to be one of the largest science and innovation campuses in the UK, delivering 2 million sq ft of high-quality advanced manufacturing and innovation space. It will be the only UK campus of its kind adjacent to an international airport and will create up to 8,000 jobs.
A range of buildings will be available, including mid tech, advanced manufacturing, research and development, laboratory and office spaces, alongside complementary amenities such as hotels, leisure facilities and high quality public realm.
In total, £30m of joint venture capital has been invested in highways and utilities infrastructure to service infrastructure at the site, with a new pedestrian bridge linking to the main airport site, the Enterprise Way link road and the installation of high voltage electricity and utilities connections have already been completed on the ‘shovel-ready’ site.
Sheppard Robson and Planit designed the masterplan; CBRE is acting as planning consultants; and JLL and Track Real Estate have been appointed as agents.