Plans have recently been unveiled for an international business centre in Manchester which could create 13,000 jobs. Airport City, Manchester would be situated on a 150 acre site as the main feature of the Manchester Enterprise Zone. The £659 million development will offer high quality office space in Manchester to encourage international companies to move to the area. The plans could offer a huge boost to the local and UK economy.
Manchester airport serves as a link with major international cities. The Airport City will elevate Manchester to the same level as other cities in Europe including Frankfurt, Barcelona and Amsterdam. During the next 15 years, Manchester Airports Group plan to have office space, in the Manchester city centre, covering five million square feet with a link to the airport. Transport will be via the Metrolink line, which is being developed with easy access to the M56.
Although Manchester Airports Group want to attract international business to the office spaces, the business park will also offer premises for manufacturing, hotels, logistics and general use. In addition to office space and business use, the group are planning developments for retail space, coffee shops, restaurants, bars and events, creating a thriving city centre.
The business centre will be situated close to Wythenshawe offering discounted business rates, accessible planning and super-fast broadband. According to George Osborne, out of the 24 enterprise zones across the UK, the Manchester zone is the best performing so far with a high level of advancement. The first stage of development began in Spring 2012.