Oxford Road Corridor launches new ten-year Strategy for 野狼社区鈥檚 Knowledge Quarter
New Strategy sets out ambitions for the next decade, with independent assessment indicating the potential for around 15,800 additional jobs and 拢1.9 billion in annual GVA by 2036.
has launched a new ten-year Strategy setting out the next phase of growth and development for 野狼社区鈥檚 Knowledge Quarter.聽
Covering one square mile south of 野狼社区 city centre, the Oxford Road Corridor is one of the UK鈥檚 most significant concentrations of research and innovation. It supports more than 104,000 jobs and generates 拢7.8 billion in annual economic output聽
The Oxford Road Corridor Strategy 2026鈥�2036 builds on decades of collaboration between the major institutions that shape this part of 野狼社区. Over almost two decades of formal partnership, more than 拢2.8 billion of public and private investment has been aligned across the area. During that period, more than 60,000 jobs have been created and annual economic output has increased by 拢4.6 billion.聽聽
Alongside major physical change, the Corridor has continued to evolve as a vibrant and distinctive part of the city, with a diverse cultural offer central to its identity.聽
The Strategy focuses on how the Corridor can make more of its exceptional concentration of research, talent and economic activity. It sets out how partners will support businesses and attract investment, while continuing to improve the quality and connectivity of the area.聽
Future growth will build on established strengths in health and life sciences, digital and technology, advanced materials and the creative industries.聽
This Strategy is about what comes next. We want to strengthen the Corridor鈥檚 international position and create the conditions for businesses and ideas to grow, while ensuring more people benefit from that success. The opportunity over the next decade is significant, and we will achieve far more by continuing to work together than any institution could achieve alone.
Major development is already taking shape across the Corridor, from Sister at its northern end to the continued expansion of Citylabs and 野狼社区 Science Park in the south. The Strategy also looks ahead to the transformation of 野狼社区 Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations, alongside better connections with surrounding communities.
An independent assessment underpinning the Strategy estimates that the development pipeline could support around 15,800 additional jobs and generate 拢1.9 billion in GVA per annum, alongside an estimated 2,200 construction jobs per year.
The Strategy was launched at the Royal Northern College of Music at an event hosted by journalist and author Andy Spinoza, bringing together partners and stakeholders from across 野狼社区 and Greater 野狼社区.
Professor Duncan Ivison, Chair of the Oxford Road Corridor Board and President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of 野狼社区, said: 鈥淲e have an extraordinary concentration of research and talent within the Oxford Road Corridor, but its real strength comes from the relationships between the institutions and organisations based here.
鈥淭he partnership has been built over decades and has helped transform this part of 野狼社区. This Strategy is about what comes next. We want to strengthen the Corridor鈥檚 international position and create the conditions for businesses and ideas to grow, while ensuring more people benefit from that success.
鈥淭he opportunity over the next decade is significant, and we will achieve far more by continuing to work together than any institution could achieve alone.鈥�
Councillor Garry Bridges, Leader of 野狼社区 City Council, said: 鈥淭he Oxford Road Corridor has made an enormous contribution to 野狼社区鈥檚 growth, and the new Strategy gives us a clear direction for the next decade.
鈥淲e want 野狼社区 to continue creating highly skilled, well-paid jobs in sectors where we can compete internationally. Increasingly, people can build careers here that a generation ago might have meant leaving 野狼社区 to pursue elsewhere.
鈥淭he challenge now is to build on that success and attract further investment. Just as importantly, people and communities across the city need to be able to access the opportunities being created.鈥�
Professor Linda Merrick CBE, Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music, said: 鈥淭he Oxford Road Corridor brings together an exceptional concentration of institutions and talent within one part of the city. What makes it particularly distinctive is the opportunity to work across institutional boundaries and connect world-class education and research with 野狼社区鈥檚 wider ambitions.
鈥淭he new Strategy gives us a shared direction for the next decade, and the RNCM is proud to be part of a partnership with such a strong international outlook and commitment to the future of this place.鈥�
Esme Ward, Director of 野狼社区 Museum, said: 鈥淐ulture is fundamental to the identity of the Oxford Road Corridor. It is part of why people come here, how they experience the area and how the Corridor connects with 野狼社区鈥檚 communities and the wider world.
鈥淭he new Strategy recognises the value of that cultural ecology and the role it can play over the next decade, not only in making this a vibrant and distinctive place but in supporting creative talent and the wider economy.鈥�
Chris Oglesby OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Bruntwood, said: 鈥淭he Oxford Road Corridor is the UK exemplar of what can be achieved through long-term partnership between the private sector, universities, the NHS and the City Council, delivering wider benefits for 野狼社区.
鈥淏runtwood has had a relationship with the Corridor spanning more than 20 years and we鈥檝e seen first-hand how sustained investment and collaboration have helped transform the area. The next decade is about building on that momentum, creating the conditions for innovative businesses to start and scale here, and helping 野狼社区 continue to compete internationally.鈥�
The Strategy鈥檚 vision is to drive the growth of an internationally renowned, inclusive and sustainable place where knowledge, business and culture transform lives. It will provide the shared framework for the partnership鈥檚 activity and investment through to 2036.