Developer Bruntwood and The University of Manchester, UK, have submitted plans for a mixed-use precinct regeneration, which forms phase two of the £50m (US$83.25m, €62.4m) redevelopment of Manchester Business School (MBS).

The phase two plans focus on the redevelopment of the existing precinct centre to create a 40,500sq ft (3,763sq m) retail and leisure offering, with architects BDP and Leach Rhodes Walker responsible for the designs.

The proposals reconfigure the existing precinct centre to create up to 14 units ranging in size from 600sq ft to 11,000sq ft (55.7sq m to 1,022sq m), with double-height glazed frontages onto Manchester’s Oxford Road. The variety of units will offer retail, food and leisure for students, staff and visitors to the University and campus, plus the large working population around Oxford Road and local residents.

The offer is intended to complement the new hotel and enhanced Manchester Business School Executive Education Centre, both of which are being developed as part of phase one, which was granted planning consent in April 2013, with construction due to commence later in 2014.

“The creation of a vibrant retail and leisure offer as part of the wider redevelopment of Manchester Business School is vital. Not only is there strong demand for a great retail mix, the site is a key strategic location in the Oxford Road Corridor,” said head of retail and leisure at Bruntwood Toby Sproll.

“At the moment, there is very little retail or leisure provision between the city centre and Whitworth Park. These plans create a new focal point that will provide fantastic amenities to the underserved catchment, attracting customers from first thing in the morning until well into the evening. We are confident demand for this location will see it become a thriving new destination in Manchester.”