As the economy continues to grow, overseas firms are expressing greater levels of interest into expanding existing sites within the UK. This has seen engineering group Siemens enter into discussions with Manchester City Council in an attempt to realise its ambition to transform its Didsbury headquarters into a “world class” facility encompassing sustainable technology and healthcare outlets.
Although the plans have been in the pipeline for some time, Siemens was forced to spend a large percentage of summer 2014 consulting with local residents regarding the impact the expanded site would have upon Didsbury. Following this consultation, Siemens has tweaked the plans in order to add three office blocks, a private hospital and several housing units – proposals which will now be put forward to the local authority in order to secure planning permission.
In addition, Siemens intends to refurbish the existing Sir William Siemens House as a means of increasing production space on the site and also invest in technological upgrades for its renewable energy centre. This, along with the total 140,000 square feet of office space and 90 room private hospital, will create employment for up to 1,800 workers along with securing the jobs of the existing 930 on-site employees.
Juergen Meier, Siemens chief executive, says; “Over the last 18 months we have undertaken a comprehensive review of our UK property strategy and the future role of our assets.
“The company has concluded that the Princess Road Campus, anchored by Siemens, provides a unique opportunity to develop a world class sustainable technology and healthcare focused business park which can leverage its proximity to a wider cluster of related businesses, academic institutions and hospitals situated within South Manchester.”
Should planning permission be granted, the first phase of the scheme is expected to begin next year and will deliver the new hospital, forecast to open in early 2017. Healthcare giant Spire has already expressed an interest in operating the facility, which will necessitate a move from its current Manchester property in Whalley Range.
One of the major sticking points in the plans could prove to be the involvement of Manchester City Council, which at present holds several restrictive covenants upon the site in question. However, as the existing business park has an annual turnover of £1.5 billion and is therefore one of Manchester’s greatest sources of local growth, the council is expected to take steps to remove these covenants in the near future as a means of promoting further economic and business growth.
The initial plans for the site were drawn up three years ago, when Siemens began to seek the best use for a Regional Growth Fund grant for a “sustainable technology hub”. With the latest set of alterations now completed by architect Stephen George and Partners, the technology giant must simply hope that the council will recognise the numerous benefits a new hospital, a large supply of residential properties and an increase in office supply will bring to Didsbury.
Do you think Siemens has chosen the right facility for an expansion, or would it have been better to select a business park in a less urban location so it can expand further in the future?
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