Green Investment Bank shortlist announced

The team behind Manchester’s Green Investment Bank campaign has today announced its preferred locations around the city.

The shortlist features 10 of Manchester’s prime schemes each of which the team feels meets the building rental and infrastructure costs outlined in the Government’s Green Investment Bank objectives.

It includes:

- Three buildings at Allied London’s Spinningfields site including Tower 12, 3 Hardman Square and a yet to be constructed new building at the scheme
- Ask’s First Street development
- City Tower, 1 New York Street and 1 Portland Street from the Bruntwood portfolio
- The Co-Operative’s NOMA 53 development
- Argent’s Hive scheme in the Northern Quarter and 1 St Peter’s Square in the centre of Manchester’s civic quarter

Led by pro·manchester  chief executive John Ashcroft, the team championing the campaign believes that an array of prime sites at cost effective rates are a key selling point in bringing the Green Investment Bank to Manchester.

Ashcroft explains: “We’ve been speaking with developers of Manchester’s best sites to secure deals on prospective commercial space. Our relationships with these developers means that we are in a position to negotiate unprecedented deals to bring a Green Investment Bank to Manchester.”

The shortlisted schemes are quoting rents of between £20 and £30 per sq ft, something which gives Manchester an edge on competing cities including Liverpool, Leeds and Bristol.

Concluded Ashcroft: “We’re looking forward to furthering our conversations with developers. Manchester has a proven track record in its ability to do cross private and public sector deals. Its testament to the fact that our city is united by the desire to achieve the national vision for a low carbon economy.”