Airport City Enterprise Zone

[jrb]

Sure there's going to be lot's more news and construction reagarding this proposal in the future. Might as well start now.

MEN.

[jrb]

PW.

Enterprise zone prospectus details safeguards to prevent companies gaining incentives without creating jobs

The government’s new enterprise zone strategy will discourage the wholesale company relocations that resulted from the regeneration incentive in the 1980s. The Department for Communities and Local Government issued an enterprise zone prospectus, which stated that the purpose of the zones was to create new businesses and jobs.

It said zones would range from 50 ha to 150 ha, depending on the level of business rates made available. The government proposes to launch 21 enterprise zones, similar to those that were set up by Baroness Thatcher’s government in the 1980s, but which drew criticism for displacing business without creating significant net growth in the jobs market.

Chris Frost, partner in the planning and regeneration team at Cluttons said, “Without doubt, the success of the last zones was Docklands and these zones will be designed to replicate its success. Docklands drew in smaller sheds initially before a second wave took the area to a new level.”

Discounts on business rates are limited by European Union state aid law to £55,000 a year per firm – an amount experts say would correspond to a business occupying around 10,000sq ft. Occupiers must move to the zones within the duration of this parliament.

Zach Wilcox, economic researcher for thinktank Centre for Cities, said: “The time restrictions within the fine print of the Budget look set to encourage new business growth, and move away from past mistakes, where big businesses just five minutes away from any given zone could just make the jump.”

The document says planning approaches may be extended beyond the enterprise zones and local authorities will have the power to discount business rates by April 2012. By April 2013 the government aims to make new funding available, to allow councils to offer tax-increment finance to develop infrastructure that supports the enterprise zones.

Chancellor George Osborne confirmed 11 zones last week and named the first as Manchester airport, the Nottingham campus of Boots, the Liverpool waterfront and the Royal Docks near the London Olympic site.

A competition has been launched among local enterprise partnerships for a further 10 enterprise zones.

[jrb]

Just posted Executive meeting/minutes.

This report provides the background and implications of the announcement on 23 March that the Greater Manchester Enterprise Zone will be located at Manchester Airport City. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/egov_do...rport_City.pdf

[WatcherZero]

They have to move into the zones within this parliament? doesnt leave much time left for actually building capacity.

Edit: Half way through the report, theres a nice concept image showing layout of the site (Sky link from The Station over the road, connecting to a couple of buildings then down to street level in the main pedestrian boulevard), very heavily tree lined, its like a forest!

Edit2: Would probably lead to the revival of the Airport Loop too, if you look at their future development plans its pretty much the route of the original loop including a heavy link between the Airport site and the Hospital.

[jrb]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

They have to move into the zones within this parliament? doesnt leave much time left for actually building capacity.

Edit: Half way through the report, theres a nice concept image showing layout of the site (Sky link from The Station over the road, connecting to a couple of buildings then down to street level in the main pedestrian boulevard), very heavily tree lined, its like a forest!

Edit2: Would probably lead to the revival of the Airport Loop too, if you look at their future development plans its pretty much the route of the original loop including a heavy link between the Airport site and the Hospital.

[roverman]

I haven't read all the blurb on this development, but I do find it somewhat strange and seemingly at odds with aspirations for the city generally. To construct a suburbanised business district right alongside an airport which is already chronically short of land on which to develop the core operational activities. This, when the Southern Gateway site, which lost out on the BBC relocation, has space which can benefit from numerous synergies offered by a proper CBD, and yet is only 15-20 minutes from the airport. Airport City looks set to benefit mainly wealthy Cheshire residents, in terms of the higher paid professional jobs created. The same thing happened when Refuge Assurance Co. moved out to Wilmslow from their beautiful Oxford Street HQ in the 1980s. Not so far for the 4x4 to travel I suppose.

[Cherguevara]

They don't seem to be targetting this at corporate relocations but at "companies who wouldn't otherwise invest in Manchester", advanced manufacturing companies and firms in the health science industry. There was a man from MAG on Gaydio's (it was on in the office, and in its own way weirdly listenable) travel show talking about various things including the planned developments around the Airport; and he was very keen to stress that this development in intended to offer something in addition to the rest of Greater Manchester, rather than to simply steal the city's existing businesses.

[WatcherZero]

That is a lot of overflow parking they will have to build a replacement for. The google earth photo of it in 2009 shows it still under construction but the aerial image above shows it pretty full.

[marni1971]

Just what the area needs. More traffic. MAELR anyone?

More to the point, and more interesting, first renders I`ve seen of the Terminal 3 east expansion, T3 MSCP expansion, Metrolink tunnel under Ringway Rd West and the T1/T2 airside link.

[heatonparkincakes]

I will allow my sneering to happen when I have the evidence to sneer.

But somehow I am unsure whether this is a good idea or a bad idea. It seems like short termism, tax breaks for the undeserved and unsustainable development with more pollution and cars, lack of local control and co ordination. On the other, I am smart enough to realise it is a business opening in a recession decade.

But not yet. I might be wrong.

[WatcherZero]

There seems to be a few controls, it will be a 30 year commitment with the profits going back to AGMA for reinvestment elsewhere in the county, not just in Manchester. There seems to be some controls to ensure that companies must be startups or young not existing companies that have been trading for years. The maximum tax break per company is £27,000 this comes from EU competition rules on state subsidy.

I have a couple of concerns:
1. The tax breaks only apply to companies that setup there before 2015 election, this place hasnt been built yet, not even entered the planning process!
2. Its a relativley average sized business park but considering point one thats probably a good thing to speed development and provide lasting critical mass.
3. Im not entirely convinced that the Airport City is the right site, are new startups and small tech/biotech companies really in need of easy 10 minute access to international flights, cant they makedo with 30 minute or hour journey times?
4. How many startups do you know which can afford to regularly send staff on overseas business trips?

[Rational Plan]

If they are aiming at high tech/medical then these start ups will rarely be by people fresh from college. They most likely will have worked for other companies before or have started and sold several businesses before. Theses sort of will often have venture capital invested in them. They will spend a lot of money travelling, or have lots of clients flying in to meet them. The less time waisted travelling the better for all.

[SteKnight]

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news...y-in-2012.html

MAG to start on Airport City in 2012
6 Apr 2011, 16:45


Manchester Airports Group is taking plans for a 2m sq ft office-led expansion on 60 acres to public consultation, following endorsement from Manchester City Council.

MAG Developments, the property division of the airport operator which accounts for 25% of group profit, has worked on the masterplan for Airport City with Urban Strategies, Drivers Jonas Deloitte and Jones Lang Lasalle assisting on its preparation.

Last month, Manchester Airport was announced as one of the Government's first four Enterprise Zones, with Airport City at the core of the zone.

Manchester Airports Group will be working alongside other stakeholders and local authorities to bring forward proposals for a definitive boundary and the required governance arrangements for the zone as soon as possible. Now that the core proposition has been endorsed, phase one of the development will now go out for public consultation.

Charlie Cornish, chief executive of the Manchester Airports Group, said: "This announcement represents a significant achievement for the Greater Manchester region and an exciting opportunity to move forward with the Airport City proposal so that we can realise the potential for creating over 7,000 jobs, while seeing additional revenues re-invested throughout Greater Manchester. In partnership with our key stakeholders, we will be progressing the project straight away and looking to build on this opportunity for the region."

John Atkins, managing director of MAG Developments, added: "We welcome the agreement of the council executive as it allows us to prepare for a start on site early in 2012."

MAG said Airport City is a concept, the first phase of which is located on land between the airport and Wythenshawe, to the north of the airport. It will connect the initial development close to the airport with a wider set of opportunities within Wythenshawe including the University Hospital of South Manchester's Medipark initiative and the regeneration of the town centre.

MAG said Airport City will aim to build on the global connectivity of the airport and create a project to compete with other locations in Barcelona, Amsterdam and Dusseldorf.

MAG added that airport cities require infrastructure capacity and an ability to grow the network of direct air routes; first class ground transportation and associated developable land assets to support the new function, which are all available at Manchester Airport.

The concept of Airport City looks at attracting businesses from sectors such as logistics and freight, as well as those seeking high quality office accommodation for research and development and health related uses with an aim of building on the proximity to Wythenshawe Hospital as a centre of excellence, plus visitor accommodation, hotels and leisure uses.

As announced during last month's Budget, the Enterprise Zones are expected to benefit from a business rate discount worth up to £275,000 per eligible business over a five year period, while all business rate growth within the zone for a period of at least 25 years will be shared and retained by the local area, to ensure that Enterprise Zone growth is reinvested locally.

MAG anticipates submitting a detailed planning application, subject to the public consultation, by the end of 2011.

Work on the first phase of Airport City is aimed to begin in 2012.

[Chorley Boi]

Airport City plan set to fly at Manchester

Posted on April 11, 2011 by John Cronin

Manchester Airport is moving ahead with plans for a multi-million pound business park on a 60-acre site next to the airport.

MAG Developments (MAG), the property and development arm of Manchester Airports Group, is confident there will be sufficient demand from international companies for the £600m development known as Airport City (pictured).

The proposed business park, on land north of Manchester Airport, is one of 4 new enterprise zones announced in the budget last month. MAG has been working on the Airport City plans for some time and are not as a result of the site being selected as an enterprise zone.

The ambitious scheme will include a large number of new office buildings along with units suitable for manufacturing companies. MAG believes the speculative development will be attractive to a range of national and international businesses and not just from the aviation industry.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced last month that it is to open a new call centre in offices on the airport campus. The new building is expected to accommodate approximately 160 staff.

Stephanie Mullenger, MAG’s business development director comments: “If you look at most business parks in the UK, you’ve got these futuristic offices, a few swans and a fountain, but no-one wants to work there. We want to create somewhere at the airport, probably for those middle and back office operations, where people really want to come and be part of.”

MAG anticipates that detailed planning applications will be ready to be submitted by the end of 2011, following a planned public consultation. Construction of the 1st phase could begin in 2012.

Urban Strategies, Drivers Jonas Deloitte and Jones Lang Lasalle have contributed to the preparation of the masterplan.

[cle]

No talk of the mid-Cheshire line extension? Would really plug MIA into the local commuter belt, otherwise this might end up being another generic car-dependent business park.

[jrb]

North West Business Desk.

MANCHESTER Airport's property arm MAG Developments said that it has been achieving around 120 enquiries per week about space in its new enterprise zone at Airport City.

MAG Developments said that it has now set up a new website providing more details about the zone as the central point of reference for enquiries both from firms looking to relocate and from contractors interested in bidding for building work - manchesterairportez.co.uk.

Stephanie Mullenger, business development director for MAG Developments, said: “The level of interest in the new Manchester Airport Enterprise Zone continues to be very high and in the five weeks since the initial Government announcement there's been a significant amount of interest locally, nationally and internationally.

"We are continuing to work with Manchester City Council, plus other stakeholders and local authorities, to confirm a definitive border and governance arrangements for the Zone.

"We encourage interested parties to visit the new website to find out more about the Government incentives to locate here."

Airport chiefs have said that a detailed planning application is likely to be submitted later this year and that work on the first phase of Airport City is scheduled to begin next year.

[flange]

Property deals in pipeline at Airport City

David Thame

May 31, 2011

Manchester’s new Airport City enterprise zone is gearing up for take-off with two major property deals in the pipeline.

Manchester Airports Group's commercial property business MAG Developments, which is behind plans for the £800m scheme, is in talks with an office occupier about signing up for 65,000 sq ft, and an advanced manufacturer which wants 200,000 sq ft.

The news comes as plans for Airport City move forward ahead of formal designation of the enterprise zone later this year.

Business leaders and politicians are likely to press for the enterprise zone to extend beyond the 150 acres already planned.

The government's enterprise zones will offer special tax advantages and a simplified planning system in an effort to lure businesses.

The Airport City Enterprise Zone, announced by the government in the spring Budget, is intended to create up to 15,000 jobs over the next 20 years.

John Atkins, managing director at MAG Developments, said: "We could be looking at between three and four million sq ft of new commercial floorspace at Airport City, including offices, distribution space, hotels and advanced manufacturing.

"We are carrying out a market analysis now to decide what kind of buildings would be most suitable. We are talking to government to determine how the simplified planning zone will work."

It is not yet clear how the site will be developed. Around 90 per cent of the land is owned by MAG Developments or by Manchester city council. The project could involving selling plots to other developers.

"It is yet to be determined how this development is done and we are looking at options to deliver it," said Mr Atkins.

"This is a 15-20 year project potentially, and it’s a very big step for the company."

MAG Developments has been gearing up for growth. Last week it made a new appointment to its development team, ahead of an increased focus on this area of the business across its four UK airports over the next few years.

Neal Biddle joins as development manager and will support the delivery of the group’s development portfolio at Manchester, East Midlands, Humberside and Bournemouth airports, reporting to property development director David Roberts.

Over the last 12 months, Manchester-based MAG Developments has invested capital into a number of development projects across the UK.

These include a £2.6m, 36,000 sq ft facility pre-let to City Link and the speculatively built Cirrus Court, both at Bournemouth Airport. Other projects include a 216-bed, £22m four-star hotel at East Midlands Airport.

MAG Developments is also looking to develop further hotel opportunities within the next 12 months, specifically at Bournemouth Airport where the imminent completion of new terminal buildings as part of a £50M infrastructure investment has resulted in a need for its first ‘on site’ hotel.

MAG Developments’ £325m investment portfolio comprises over 200 properties across 5,000 acres, serving more than 850 companies.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...-airport-city-

[jrb]

MEN.

The firms hired to make up the professional consultancy team for the Airport City enterprise zone scheme at Manchester Airport were named today.

MAG Developments, the property arm of Manchester Airports Group, has appointed Drivers Jonas Deloitte and Jones LangLaSalle to lead on the planning and commercial delivery of the masterplan.

Work on the £800m scheme is due to begin next year. Canadian company Urban Strategies, which worked on the initial stages of the proposal, has been retained and will be supported by Manchester-based 5plus Architects.

Altrincham firm Planit will design landscape and public realm areas, while AECOM and Davis Langdon have been chosen to advise on transport, energy, utilities, sustainability and cost consultancy.

John Atkins, managing director of MAG Developments, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce a high quality team of professionals to develop the masterplan for Airport City, containing a mix of international design standing and local creative architectural talent.”

[jrb]

Abit more from PNW.

Masterplanning team selected for Airport City

2 Jun 2011, 17:09


The design team to deliver Airport City, the 2m sq ft enterprise zone development at Manchester Airport, has been appointed.

MAG Developments, the property arm of Manchester Airports Group, has chosen Drivers Jonas Deloitte and Jones Lang LaSalle on planning and commercial surveying. Canadian firm Urban Strategies, which has worked on the initial concept, has been retained and will be supported by Manchester-based practice 5plus Architects.

Altrincham-based Planit will design landscape and public realm areas while Aecom and Davis Langdon have been chosen to advise on transportation, energy, utilities, sustainability and cost consultancy.

John Atkins, MD of MAG Developments, said: "This will not be one development but a place-making project over a 10- to 15-year period. It is imperative that we ensure that Airport City is of the highest quality and international standing, whilst having a tone and feel that is unique to Manchester."

Design work is now underway and occupier enquiries are already being received; and infrastructure will commence in 2012.

Simon Bedford, head of the economic development team at Drivers Jonas Deloitte, said: "Airport City is now moving into the delivery stage. Drivers Jonas Deloitte is pleased to continue its association with the project as it moves from concept through to more detailed feasibility. The enterprise zone designation will, we believe, accelerate the development programme and begin the transformation of the Airport City site."

Businesses that are expected to want to locate at Airport City include; logistics, freight forwarders, advanced manufacturers, those seeking high quality office accommodation, research and development, health related uses to build on the proximity to Wythenshawe Hospital as a centre of excellence, plus visitor accommodation, hotels and leisure uses to support the delivery of Airport City.

Bob Dyson, chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle North West, said: "We have been involved for some years in helping to shape the Airport City concept. It is a model which recognises that an airport can do so much more than perform its aeronautical function."

Phil Doyle, director of 5plus Architects, said: "We're naturally delighted to have been chosen in a competitive situation, particularly having had a previous relationship with the company through our work on the new Escape Lounge in Terminal 1 and the Pier B refurbishment programme. We put the concept of place-making at the heart of what we do and the new Airport City project will give us a chance to deliver a future vision for Manchester."

Enterprise zones are expected to benefit from a business rate discount worth up to £275,000 a year over five years, while all business rate growth within the zone for a period of at least 25 years will be shared and retained by the local area, to ensure that Enterprise Zone growth is reinvested in Greater Manchester.

[Chogmook]

Isn't our very own B4mmster at Planit?!