Sister will transform The University of Manchester’s former North campus, once home to the historic University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), into a vibrant new city centre neighbourhood.
Once complete, Sister will deliver over 2 million sq ft of commercial, innovation and retail space, along with more than 1,500 new homes and nine acres of public realm. It will also create over 10,000 new jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities for people across Greater Manchester.
Development of the Sister site will take place in phases over the next 15-20 years, with the first building, the Renold Building, opening onsite in 2024. The vision, objectives and design principles that will guide the future development of the site are set out in a Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the site.
The Renold Innovation Hub is a new home for start-ups, spin-outs and entrepreneurs, offering coworking space, private workspace and a range of flexible event space.
At the heart of the site the illustrative masterplan envisions a new civic square to host large outdoor events and activities, and shared spaces to meet, eat, work and play.
A widened Altrincham Street could create a pedestrian and cycle route from Piccadilly Station to the Oxford Road Corridor. Bars, restaurants and shops could fill the viaduct arches, and a clear route through to Vimto Park could connect areas both north and south of the viaduct.
The entry point to the district, when arriving from Piccadilly Station, is marked by a large, welcoming arrival space with generous lobbies and animated ground floor spaces to draw people in.
The Grade II listed Sackville Street Building will be restored and repurposed, and could feature a new hotel and residential accommodation as well as new commercial workspace.
Vimto Park will be enhanced and extended, allowing people to reconnect with nature and helping to improve biodiversity.
Jackson's Mill could be repurposed into new innovation space overlooking Water Square, an informal and wild landscape at the centre of the site.
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