HELP US SHAPE SISTER, MANCHESTER’S NEW INNOVATION DISTRICT

Welcome to the latest community consultation for Sister, Manchester’s new innovation district.

Sister is a partnership between The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech that will revitalise an underused area of Manchester city centre over the next 15 years.

Previously home to the University’s North Campus and situated between Piccadilly Station and Oxford Road, Sister will transform this 18-hectare site into a vibrant new neighbourhood and business innovation district.

This consultation specifically introduces proposals for Zone C of the site’s masterplan, including a flagship new office development, a revitalised Altrincham Street, a new public square, and a series of high-quality outdoor public spaces.

We’re excited to hear your views on these proposals before submitting a planning application. Your feedback will help us evolve and fine-tune the plans and the future of Sister, ensuring we deliver a scheme that benefits both the local community and the wider city.

You’ll find information about how to get involved on the Have your say page.  

ABOUT

Sister is a place built on the belief that ideas flourish when people come together.

Sister, formerly known as ID Manchester, aims to become the world’s next major innovation district.

Sister will be a place where science, technology and creativity can come together, welcoming everyone from entrepreneurs to families. Sister is all about making big ideas happen by bringing together talent, investment, education and business.

At the heart of it all is a focus on inclusivity. We want to create a space where everyone feels welcome, with plenty of opportunities for young people and local communities to grow through jobs and training. By connecting people, schools and businesses, we aim to build a bright future for Manchester and its people. After all, it takes a community to raise an idea.

Location

The Sister masterplan site covers an area of 18 hectares in Manchester city centre.

The site is situated within the boundary of the Oxford Road Corridor, which is home to a number of cultural assets, two of the UK's largest universities, a university NHS foundation trust, and a large cluster of digital, technology and life-science businesses.

Aerial image of masterplan area

The site was once home to The University of Manchester North Campus and prior to this, The University of Manchester Institute of  Science and Technology. 

Sister has a bold vision to build on Manchester's history of innovation and transform this underutilised site into a place where communities, academia and businesses come together to tackle the world's biggest challenges.

Find out more about what we stand for here.

What’s happened so far?

The vision for Sister (formerly ID Manchester) was introduced in July 2023 through a Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) that was approved in December 2023. Local residents and businesses were invited to share their views as part of a public consultation. The SRF was endorsed by Manchester City Council in December 2023.

Since then, through engagement with the local community and other stakeholders, we’ve been progressing plans for the first phases of development at Sister. We’ve also opened the Renold Innovation Hub as Sister’s first building.

Now we’re ready to share our plans for Zone C as part of another public consultation, and we want to hear your views! You’ll find information about how to get involved on the Have your say page.

ZONE C

As part of this public consultation, we are sharing our proposals for Zone C, the first phase of development within this exciting new masterplan. This plot, located to the northeast of the Sister site, faces London Road and Altrincham Street and will play a key role in shaping the future of the area.

Our plans aim to create a dynamic and welcoming environment that supports local businesses, enhances connectivity, and provides new spaces for people to work, socialise, and relax. Zone C will also drive significant economic benefit to local people and businesses through the creation of over 4,000 new jobs.

Our proposals for Zone C include:

A flagship commercial office development with sustainable and flexible workspaces.

The new commercial development will consist of two interlinked buildings connected at their base via an open shared lobby. This green and relaxing public space is designed to encourage more chance meetings and collaboration opportunities between different businesses and groups of people.

A vibrant mix of retail, leisure and community spaces along Altrincham Street.

Our proposals would see Altrincham Street widened and this underused street brought to life as a vibrant pedestrian thoroughfare at the gateway to Sister. The historic viaduct arches will be reactivated with retail, leisure and community spaces (such as cafes and shops).

Improved walking and cycling routes between Piccadilly Station, Oxford Road and surrounding neighbourhoods.  

The proposals align closely with Manchester City Council’s wider environmental goals by providing enhanced pedestrian and cycling pathways to encourage sustainable transport, while also making the area far more accessible for people with prams, wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

Inviting public spaces, including new green spaces and civic square, designed for community engagement.

At the heart of the Sister masterplan is a landmark new multi-use public square for the city of Manchester. The Square will serve as a vibrant hub for people of all ages, promoting business networking, social interactions, wellbeing and relaxation, as well as providing opportunities to host major events.

  • Illustration of the publicly accessible central foyer area at the heart of the new office buildings.

  • Illustration of the the proposed office development and landmark public square.

  • Illustration of the proposals for Zone C and Altrincham Street from London Road (looking west)

  • llustration of the flexible community space at the entrance to Sister, incorporating the Hollaway Wall

  • Illustration of the proposed flexible community engagement space from outside building C2.

Find out more

For more information about Sister and our plans for Zone C, click the button below to open our consultation boards.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Our consultation on plans for Zone C will be open from Monday 17 February to Sunday 9 March 2025.

If you would like to provide feedback, please complete our online questionnaire.

If you have any questions after reading the information on this website, please see our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information.

As part of the consultation, we will also be holding three in-person drop in events. These events are open to everyone and will be an opportunity to find out more about the proposals, talk to the project team, ask questions and provide feedback on our plans.

Please contact us if you would like information in another language, or translation assistance at one of our events.

EVENTS

Community Day

Saturday 1 March 2025 | 11am – 3pm
Renold Building, 81 Sackville St, Manchester, M1 3NJ 

Join us for a family-friendly community day with activities and learn more about the project with free refreshments provided.

Drop-in Sessions

Speak with our team to explore the development plans: 

Tuesday 4 March 2025 | 4pm – 7pm
Renold Building 

Thursday 6 March 2025 | 4pm – 7pm
St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green North, Manchester, M12 6FZ 

Renold Building what3words location: ///mute.rainy.ripe 

If you have any questions about the consultation or our proposals, you can contact the consultation team via email at: info@sistermanchesterconsultation.com.