Manchester City Council has given planning consent for the171,500 sf first phase. This comprises the 100,000 sq ft ParkBusiness Centre, which is a joint venture between the developersand serviced office provider Regus plus two speculative buildingstotalling 71,500 sq ft. Ultimately, the site can accommodate675,000 sf of offices.

And Dublin-based Green Properties Green Properties has lodged anoutline planning application for a 432,832 sf business park on a 21acre site adjacent next door. No date has yet been given forManchester's planning committee to committee consider the plan but,if approved, Green and Arlington are expected to merge the sites toform a single million sf-plus business park.

The spate of development in the area is being driven by theexpansion of Manchester airport where a second runway and newterminal are boosting capacity. By 2002, Manchester Airport will beserved by 110 airlines carrying in excess of 21 million passengersper annum.