Joint venture developers Manchester Science Partnerships and Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust gave the nod after securing a pre-let on the Citylab 2.0 building from global diagnostics firm QIAGEN.

The partners also said that subject to the completion of further design work and funding being secured,  they intend to move forward with Citylabs 3.0 as soon as possible.

Together the projects will involve an investment of around £60m in the heart of Manchester’s Innovation District.

Citylabs 2.0 and 3.0 will be located on the corner of Oxford Road and Hathersage Road, opposite Whitworth Park.

The £30m Citylabs 2.0 development will comprise 89,500 sq ft of lab and office space.

The first £25m phase of the scheme was completed by Lendlease in 2014.

Tom Renn, Managing Director of Manchester Science Partnerships  said: “We are proud to be part of the partnership that has led to this hugely important deal for our great city, and a thrilled that our long-standing customer QIAGEN has chosen our Citylabs 2.0 for their new home as they make this significant expansion.

“With our joint venture partner, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we are excited to progress our £60m, 220,000sq ft Citylabs campus extension which will enable the creation of a world-leading precision medicine campus in Manchester.”