Today the UK’s ambition to be a world-leading science and technology innovation hub has taken another step forward as The University of Manchester announced Bruntwood SciTech, the UK’s leading property provider dedicated to the growth of the science and technology sector, as its preferred bidder to deliver the £1.5 billion innovation district – ID Manchester. The internationally-significant project will cement the UK’s position in the science and technology sector; providing vital specialist infrastructure to power the growth of the knowledge economy and unlock the potential to commercialise R&D innovation, supporting the UK to build back better and level up. The University and Bruntwood SciTech, a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General, will now form a new joint venture to enhance, develop and deliver the vision to establish ID Manchester as a new innovation district, home to a global community that will play a vital role in the future of the UK science and technology sector, with the potential to create over 10,000 new jobs in the next 10-15 years. Place design and placemaking will be central to the development of ID Manchester, which when complete will provide over four million square feet (370,000 square metres) including 2.6 million square feet (240,000 square metres) of new commercial workspace and a £28 million investment in the public realm that will provide a focal point for a vibrant events programme. The area benefits from existing green space and the unique feature of the 650,000 square feet (60,000 square metres) Grade II-listed Sackville Street Building. ” Innovation is a core theme for the University as we enter our third century. The opportunity afforded by ID Manchester will provide more chances for our research to have an impact on the real world, it will be a place where we address the challenges facing the world in the 21st century and to explore new ideas to improve the health, wealth and happiness of our fellow citizens. The journey to find our joint venture partner to work with us on delivering ID Manchester has been hugely rewarding for everyone involved. The quality and calibre of the submissions we received was truly outstanding and I would like to extend our gratitude to those who were unsuccessful. Bruntwood SciTech shares many of the same values and principles as The University of Manchester and throughout our detailed discussions with them, their commitment and approach to sustainability, inclusivity and collaboration aligned closely with our vision for ID Manchester. We look forward to working together to create an outstanding innovation district which will play a large role in helping the UK to build back better “ President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell Chris Oglesby, executive chair, Bruntwood SciTech said: “From the splitting of the atom, to the first isolation of graphene, Manchester has been at the forefront of global innovation. The ambition to create an innovation district of this size and scale will help transform the UK’s knowledge economy and cement the UK’s status as world leader in science, technology and engineering. “Working in partnership with The University of Manchester, we will create a global exemplar that will support national and international investment into science and technology, creating new pathways for the translation of research, and new cultures for enterprise. “It’s also an opportunity to build something with purpose and a social conscience at its heart from the outset. ID Manchester will champion a more progressive and sustainable model of economic success, one that works for all people and the planet. “To be selected to deliver a project of such scale, ambition and international significance is a privilege and we cannot wait to get started.” Bruntwood SciTech is a 50:50 JV between Bruntwood and Legal & General. ID Manchester is Legal & General’s ninth significant urban regeneration scheme, having invested billions of pounds in partnerships with universities such as Oxford and Newcastle and Local Authorities in areas such as Cardiff, Salford and Sunderland. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “This announcement is a welcome step forward for the plan to create a world-leading innovation district in Manchester city centre. ID Manchester will be another important asset for our city-region, supporting jobs in the science and technology sectors as we look to grow our economy beyond the pandemic.” Nigel Wilson, Group Chief Executive Legal & General said: “Universities are a key driver for the growth of cities, acting as a magnet for talent and incubator of growth and innovation. They have an integral role in shifting the dial for future success. This partnership is a unique opportunity to invest in, and develop, a significant, long-term and patient capital project that is economically viable and socially useful. Supporting the government’s “levelling up” agenda, it embodies inclusive capitalism in one of the UK’s strongest regional cities, as we build back better and help create a more inclusive post-pandemic society.” It is expected the joint venture agreement will be signed by the autumn. The new joint venture partnership will see Stanhope plc appointed as strategic development manager in their first project outside of the South East of England, confirming the developer’s commitment to the Life Sciences sector across the UK. The partnership will work together on the next stage of the masterplan for ID Manchester. Diana Hampson, Director of Estates and Facilities at The University of Manchester said: “ID Manchester will be a unique new neighbourhood. Our vision draws on Manchester’s ecosystem of ideas, discovery, research and development, and ID Manchester will provide the canvas on which all those strands can come together to take urban regeneration to a whole new level. ID Manchester will be where our most valuable discoveries today, are tried, tested and developed into the technology, buildings and commerce of tomorrow. We are looking forward to working with Bruntwood SciTech to build on our vision and deliver ID Manchester.” The opportunity for ID Manchester follows the completion of the new £400 million Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) which will be the largest home for engineering in

Thousands of jobs are set to be created through a new regeneration project in South Yorkshire. The construction of Unity Connect, the major mixed-use scheme in Doncaster is set to deliver over 2 million sq ft of employment space, 3,100 new homes, a new marina, school, transport hub and a range of open spaces, creating up to 7,000 jobs. Fulcrum, a Sheffield-headquartered multi-utility infrastructure and services provider, has been awarded the new contract to provide essential infrastructure and make way for significant levels of new commercial development. Over the next 20 years the development is expected to inject over £900m into the local economy. The contract, awarded by developer Waystone Hargreaves Land LLP, will enable the start of construction of Unity Connect, the scheme’s commercial zone which will include a new 800,000 sq ft distribution centre and training facility. Fulcrum has designed an innovative high voltage electrical infrastructure solution to future-proof the development, to support the power requirements of additional industrial units as they are added to the Connect zone. In addition to reducing cost, this solution will help speed up future development timescales. Terry Dugdale, CEO of Fulcrum, said: “Unity is a transformative regeneration development, which will have a significant, positive economic impact on South Yorkshire. As our head office is based in the region, we are especially pleased to bring our multi-utility expertise to Unity and support the important early stages of its development. “The experience of our team in providing future-proofed utility infrastructure has been key to helping the developers embark on the works to create the Connect zone, not only for the planned distribution centre, but also with the provision of connection-ready infrastructure for future commercial units on the site.” Alistair McLoughlin, director at Waystone Hargreaves Land LLP added: “We are very pleased to be working with the team at Fulcrum. “Our investment in infrastructure will form an integral part of the scheme’s future success and helps lay the foundations for considerable development in the months and years ahead.”

A new mixed tenure housing development is to be built on a 14.85ha brownfield site off Donnington Wood Way. The new development of 329 new homes is being bought forward by a partnership comprising of Telford & Wrekin Council, Nuplace Ltd – the Council’s wholly owned housing company, Lovell Partnerships Ltd and Housing Association, Wrekin Housing Group.  Serving the needs of the local community and in line with the Council’s Housing Strategy, which seeks to ensure that all people have access to safe and appropriate housing, this site will see a mix of properties for open market sale, private and affordable rent and Rent to Buy, plus dementia care and supported living units.  The development will be built out by leading construction partner Lovell, who have already developed nine Nuplace sites across the borough over the last 6 years as well as a number of other mixed tenure sites. At this site, 66 homes are being built for Nuplace, which will be available for private rent, as well as 77 for open market sale from Lovell. A range of properties are also being delivered for the Borough’s largest Housing Association, Wrekin Housing Group. This includes an Extracare facility with, specialist dementia care apartments offering a supported living provision.  These homes will provide housing choice for people of all ages and stages, enabling people to remain within the community, as their needs change.  At the heart of the development, will be a new “Community Hub” providing café and bistro facilities, space to work with free wifi as well as learning suites which can be used by local schools and community groups. A new children’s play area will also be built on site, linking into enhanced footpaths and wayfinding into and within Granville Nature Reserve, ensuring that this development provides facilities for the new community as well as existing residents of Donnington and Muxton.  Construction work is due to commence in Summer 2021 and continue until early 2025. Properties within the development will have PV panels and electric car charging points, with a number of Nuplace properties being built to ‘Future Homes’ standards, helping tenants to reduce their fuel bills and at the same time reducing the scheme’s carbon footprint. Councillor David Wright, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Housing, said: “This promises to be another excellent development for the borough which will deliver against many of the Council’s strategic objectives relating to housing and our green agenda. “Regenerating the site and meeting the local housing need will however be carefully balanced with the need to enhance and protect this precious, ecologically rich environment. This is a very special location and we want to make sure it remains a home for nature as much as it will become a home for local people.” “Nuplace is a huge success story for the Council, with more than 1,000 people living in Nuplace homes across the borough, and we are delighted to be working in partnership with building partner, Lovell and The Wrekin Housing Group to bring forward another quality development.” Simon Thompson, Director of Development at The Wrekin Housing Group said: “This is a really important scheme for Donnington Wood. The team have been working hard on this for several months and I’m pleased that Telford and Wrekin Council have approved this application. “We are really pleased to be able to invest in Telford and Wrekin with new homes that offer housing choices for everybody.” Stuart Penn, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “We’re delighted that planning for Donnington Wood Way has been approved with 329 much-needed homes now on track to become a reality. The progression of this site, alongside Telford & Wrekin Council, Nuplace and Wrekin Housing Group, reflects the potential of what can be achieved when organisations work in partnership.”   As part of the Stronger Communities Programme, The Council secured £3.3 million of funding from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver enabling works to support the delivery of this new development, including the construction on two new site accesses off Donnington Wood Way.  For more information about this site or to register your interest visit www.nuplace.co.uk/donningtonwood