Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has announced that it will publish an invitation for developers to tender for its €775m, four million square feet, Airport City project in early 2012.
MAG said that it was preparing to formally approach the market in the New Year to find development partners for the project - a 150-acre scheme located to the north and west of the existing airport site, and around nine miles from Manchester city centre.
It will provide over four million square feet of new business space over the next 10 to 15 years, including Grade-A office space, hotel and leisure uses, retail, manufacturing and logistics accommodation.
The group said: "An 'Expression of Interest Document' detailing the Airport City opportunity will be officially released through an open competitive process early in 2012."
Meanwhile, MAG today (December 15) gave John Atkins the new title of Airport City Director - rather than managing director of MAG Developments.
As a result he has been put in charge of the €775 million Enterprise Zone development project at the airport.
Charlie Cornish, CEO of the Manchester Airports Group (MAG), said: "Airport City is a long-term project that will take shape over the next ten to 15 years and we have huge ambitions for the opportunity and the potential it harnesses for the North."
The Airport City will build upon the global connectivity of Manchester Airport and create a project to compete with similar locations in Barcelona, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.
According to Cornish, Manchester is well placed to develop an Airport City concept, as it has the required level of infrastructure capacity and an ability to further grow the network of direct air routes.
Atkins said: "Next year will be significant as we look to secure planning permission and bring the project to market.
"The site already has the potential to deliver a unique product for the North of England and is well served by ground transportation links with developable land assets in close proximity.
"Our target market is global businesses who are seeking highly connected locations and we must ensure we have a first class product in order to attract them here."
Since being announced as one of the UK government's Enterprise Zone projects in March 2011, there has been a substantial amount of enquiries from businesses interested in basing operations at Manchester's Airport City.
The benefits for businesses locating within the Enterprise Zone include a 100% business rate discount worth up to €328,000 over a five-year period.
In August, Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, confirmed that its first European Contact Centre would be located at the site with the new centre due to open in 2012, creating around 160 new jobs.
