Green technology centre could create 400 new jobs

Siemens has chosen Kier to buy its 20-acre site in the Manchester suburb of Didsbury and develop a 100,000 ft2 green technology centre, Building understands.

Kier is understood to be buying the site for some £15m and then leasing it back to the electrical engineering giant for around £2m a year for at least 12 years.

The deal will see a mixed-use development created at the site - where Siemens already employs some 800 people -that would see new offices built, others refurbished, and the construction of a hotel and homes.

A Siemens spokeswoman was quoted as saying: “We are currently in the process of agreeing final terms and conditons.”