Manchester is looking very much like the construction capital of England at the moment, with numerous note-worthy construction projects underway within the city. In today's post, we will spend some time exploring each of the major Manchester construction projects that are underway and considering what this increased construction activity means for the community, the economy and the future of UK construction.

1. Manchester Airport's Terminal 2 upgrade.

Conducted by United Living Group and part of the £1.3 billion Manchester Airport Transformation Programme, this infrastructure project will involve the installation of new pipelines. This complex and logistically challenging project will need to be carried out in such a way that the day to day function of the airport is not impacted during the construction phase.

2. The Factory, home to Manchester International Festival.

This development, contracted to Laing O'Rourke, will deliver a landmark cultural space which is being partly funded by a Lottery grant. It will, once complete, be able to accommodate up to 850,000 visitors a year and is expected to boost Manchester's economy by £1.1 Billion over the coming decade.

3. Mayfield.

This ambitious project by U+I will transform a previously derelict, 24 acre industrial site into a stunning city-centre development, complete with 2.3 million square feet of office space, 1,500 new homes, 200,000 square feet of leisure and retail facilities, two new hotels and a 13 acre park. 

This project will create a modern and thriving city centre which locals and visitors alike will enjoy spending time in. It will create thousands of new jobs and is anticipated to deliver a major boost to Manchester's economy.

4. First Street.

Downing Construction are the lead developer on this exciting new co-living project, which will see the creation of a new hotel and commercial office space as well as living accommodation and a network of new public spaces. 

The new residential development will provide affordable, convenient and secure rental homes for professionals who are looking for a property to rent that will satisfy not only their budget and location requirements but also place them firmly into a thriving community.

5. Co-op Live Arena.

This £350 million arena is being built by BAM Construction and will have a capacity to accommodate 23,500 people. BAM Construction are committed to local procurement and have already created thousands of jobs for local people, as well as selecting local suppliers to provide them with the materials that are required for the build.

6. New Victoria.

Situated next to Manchester's Victoria railway station, this high-rise residential development is being led by Vinci Construction who will deliver 520 homes accommodated within two buildings. One of these will be 20 stories high, and the other 25 stories high. These one, two and three bed apartments will be offered for sale and rent to people wishing to live in a modern, city-centre location within the Manchester area.

Each of these projects is aimed at increasing investment in the city of Manchester, modernising its infrastructure and creating jobs and homes for local people, as well as looking to attract visitors to the city in order to boost its economy. 

By placing equal focus on enhancing the local community and increasing the city's appeal to visitors, Manchester City Council are delivering on a vision for success. Many of these projects have already provided locals with construction, project planning, quality assurance and other related roles within the construction industry, while numerous other roles will be created in retail and hospitality once the projects are complete. 

Increasing the availability of employment within the local area not only encourages local people to remain local, but provides a welcome boost to the area's economy. Many of these projects are employing modern methods of construction to maximise energy efficiency benefits and to reduce waste which has the added benefit of reducing timescales and increasing quality standards.

Build Space are delighted to have supplied personnel to support a number of these projects, as well as related airport infrastructure projects at both London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports. If your business requires specialist talent to support you in delivering your next construction project, please contact us today to find out how we can help you.