Green light for Manchester's new "creative campus"

A new “creative campus” in New Islington, Manchester, received planning approval last month.

 The low-carbon scheme will bring 3,500 new jobs and generate £8m in social value. Located alongside the Ashton Canal and inspired by the city's historic cotton and textile mills, the development will provide over two acres of new, exceptional public space, benefitting from a £5m investment into landscape and green space.

Providing M&E Engineering, we are bringing the 350,000 sq ft, five-building campus on Pollard Street to life with Hawkins\Brown and General Projects.

Designed in accordance with RIBA 2030 climate challenge targets, we implemented reversible air source heat pumps for heating and cooling and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery in the spec offices,and provided natural ventilation, electric heating and PV panels for the start-up units that benefit from low embodied carbon due to less services.

The new site is targeted to ambitious start-ups, fast-growing SMEs and established businesses, and will feature spaces ranging from micro-units to Grade A creative next-gen workspace.

Pollard Street will offer a car-free policy, low carbon transport links and an innovative low-carbon approach to construction and operation, while 50 new mature trees will be planted on site and 550 bike spaces will be provided.

By forming a new Community Wealth Partnership with Manchester City Council, General Projects’ vision is to deliver a range of targeted social initiatives, including mentoring programmes for local young people and businesses, free workspace for local start-ups and apprenticeship and internship programmes to tackle local unemployment.