UKFast strikes deal for huge Manchester site

Technology giant UKFast has struck a deal to buy a 120,000 sq ft plot of land adjacent to its headquarters in Manchester, with the company revealing a host of development plans for the site.The proposed acquisition – which has been struck with Manchester City Council – is considered key to the continued growth and acceleration of the business and its associated entities, which together employ more than 400 staff.The current Birley Fields Campus incorporates two identical 40,000 sq ft buildings; One and Three Archway. It is also home to the FastForward tech incubator, managed by Tech Manchester – a not-for-profit initiative funded by UKFast to support tech startups.Lawrence Jones and co-founder Gail Jones have a long-term aspiration to build on this and create a dedicated tech campus, creating jobs for Manchester and adding value to the city.Proposed developments for the site are phased, with the first including an office building of at least 30,000 sq ft with surface car parking and the second bringing additional office accommodation and a multi-storey car park.