While no deal has been finalised, Siemens has selected Kier as its preferred partner and will now start detailed negotiation for the future of its prime 20-acre Princess Road site in south Manchester.
Siemens employs 800 staff on the site and has plans to increase this to 1,200 people in three years, with the development of offshore wind power transmission technologies.
Siemens and Kier will now work with Manchester City Council to bring forward a mixed-use scheme primarily for commercial use. The scheme will be anchored by a new 100,000sq ft office building for use by Siemens while the existing Sir William Siemens House will be refurbished.
The balance of the site will be developed in phases to provide new office, hotel and residential accommodation. The aspiration is that the development will promote Manchester’s credentials in science and innovation.
Siemens and the council have recently secured regional growth fund support to aid delivery of the wider development and work will now proceed to agree commercial arrangements to bring the scheme forward.
The scheme is subject to the board approval of Siemens AG.
Juergen Maier, managing director of Siemens Industry in the UK & Ireland, said: “We have selected Kier as our preferred partner to support us in realising our ambitious plans to develop our Manchester site into a real centre for sustainable technology and innovation to support the city's low carbon vision. The development will create a real focal point for the city and also help in attracting new business and engineering skills to the north-west."
Kier Property senior development manager James Nicholson added: "The Princess Road site will act as a showcase for Kier Property’s capabilities and will provide a platform for further development growth in the Manchester region. We are committed to delivering a scheme of the highest quality and one which complements and adds to Manchester’s innovation and technology focus.”
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
