Bruntwood SciTech gets nod for further Portland Street regeneration

Bruntwood SciTech has received planning approval to redevelop 117-119 Portland Street in Manchester city centre. Dating back to 1886, the building was formerly home to shipping merchant Schill Seebohm & Co. The £6m project will see the Grade II listed building become the gateway into Manchester’s innovation district, with the refurbishment of the workspace creating collaboration, wellness and event spaces. The developer aims to create office spaces ranging from 1,200 to 6,200 sq ft and able to accommodate up to 80 people. The fully fitted suites will also offer a range of options and flexibility for businesses as they grow, particularly those working in the creative, tech and media sectors. Works are expected to start imminently and complete in spring next year. The 35,000 sq ft building extends Bruntwood SciTech’s neighbourhood of refurbished Victorian warehouses, spanning 113-115 Portland Street, 127 Portland Street and Oxford Place. These plans, alongside redevelopment of King’s House and Pall Mall, form a part of Bruntwood SciTech’s Pioneer programme, which was launched in 2022.  Richard Roper, associate director for asset management at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Our cluster of buildings on Portland Street is uniquely positioned to become the connecting junction between the Oxford Road Corridor and our city centre innovation hubs, further supporting businesses to access a city-wide innovation ecosystem. “This cornerstone of the city has been lacking investment into creating workspaces that galvanise collaboration, creativity and ingenuity and offer like-minded communities to connect with, so we hope to deliver that at 117 Portland Street.” Canning O’Neill and Savills are agents for 117-119 Portland Street and the main contractor is CubicWorks.