A total of £60 million is to be invested to expand a biomedical centre of excellence in Manchester.

Science park operator Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP) is planning to upgrade Citylabs on the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) campus.

The two-phase development will see the creation of Citylabs 2.0, a £25m scheme comprising 89,500 sq ft of lab and office space. Construction is to begin in spring 2017, pending planning permission, with completion scheduled for summer 2018.

The second £35m phase, Citylabs 3.0, will span 112,000 sq ft and integrate the development of 89,000 sq ft of new buildings with the Old Saint Mary’s Hospital. Other features include creating a café/dining area and potential meeting room facilities, as well as extensive external landscaping and the provision of new gardens.

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Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2018, with completion in 2020.

The overall project is the first to be delivered by the Strategic Property Partnership between MSP's parent company, Bruntwood, and CMFT.

Rowena Burns, Chief Executive of MSP, said: "It is entirely fitting that we are making this announcement as part of ESOF- an international event which is focused on innovation and collaboration – two of the pillars on which our business is built.

"Manchester's Innovation District will be strengthened further by the development of Citylabs 2.0 and 3.0. Our investment will help create fresh ideas, partnerships and scientific discovery. Above all, Manchester and the North West offer investors outstanding access to talent, knowledge and clinical facilities."

(LM/MH)