This month the University of Manchester named its preferred partner to deliver the much publicised and internationally significant £1.5b innovation district ID Manchester, adjacent to the city’s Piccadilly station. That partner is Bruntwood SciTech, a name already linked to a string of science parks and innovation clusters, including Alderley Park in Cheshire, Innovation Birmingham and Manchester Science Park.

The official launch of Bruntwood SciTech in October 2018 was propitious timing. Scarcely more than a year later, science and technology found its prominence rising rapidly due to the pandemic. Once regarded as a niche property sector, it now plays a central role in national economic recovery and the levelling-up agenda, possessing a relative resilience in today’s uncertain post-pandemic business environment.

The business grew out of Bruntwood’s partnership experience, notably on Manchester Science Park and Alderley Park, the developer joining forces with Legal & General in a 50:50 joint venture. In just over two years, it has more than doubled its property portfolio in science and technology, becoming the UK’s leading property provider dedicated to the sector and now housing more than 500 science and technology businesses.

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