Airport City Manchester has embarked on a £15million infrastructure investment that will support the development of the landmark £1billion project.

Construction of the new link road, Enterprise Way, will connect the office and hotel development plots to the rest of the site and the wider transport network.

The construction of Enterprise Way, on the site adjacent to Manchester Airport, is being undertaken by Beijing Construction Engineering Group International (BCEGI), one of the project’s JV partners, which in turn will recruit a larger local workforce to create 70 jobs.

Yu Dongwen, lead director at BCEGI (UK) Ltd, said: “Following the success of Global Logistics and ALPHA, we’re excited to be embarking on the delivery of such a significant infrastructure project, which will not only bring the office and hotel offering at Airport City together, but which will create hundreds of jobs for a local workforce.”

Simon Eastwood, managing director at Carillion Developments, said: “This year is shaping up to be a very significant one for Airport City Manchester. Construction has started on Enterprise Way, which highlights the scale of this unique site and frames the wider development opportunities across the scheme, where collectively the joint venture partners have invested over £35m into infrastructure.”

Mike Kane, MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, said: “Construction of the new link road, Enterprise Way, is the connecting link for the hotel and office developments at Airport City to the wider airport site and more importantly to the transport network. This is another significant step forward in opening up jobs and opportunities at Airport City and building the huge economic and regenerative potential of this site for Wythenshawe and beyond.”

Airport City is set to generate major economic benefits to Greater Manchester and the wider northern region, through the delivery of five million square feet of premium office space, hotels, advanced manufacturing and logistics facilities.

As one of the UK’s largest joint venture commercial development projects, Airport City has already created over 2,000 jobs and 700,000 sq ft of space and is attracting high-profile companies including Amazon and DHL.

The construction of Enterprise Way follows the significant progress in the development of its flagship Global Logistics development, with the construction and forward sale of 130,000 sq ft ALPHA logistics unit and completion of Amazon’s 654,000 sq ft warehouse and fulfilment centre.

ALPHA and Amazon have joined the 37,400 sq ft DHL Global Logistics facility at the expanding Airport City development. Situated at the heart of a government Enterprise Zone, Airport City is one of the UK’s largest joint venture commercial development projects.

Neighbouring Manchester Airport, the central business district sits next to the airport’s ground transport interchange for rail, tram and bus passengers as well as linking to the M56 and M60.

Once complete, the £1billion development will comprise five million sq ft of premium office space, hotels, advanced manufacturing, logistics facilities and ancillary retail. The joint venture partners are Manchester Airports Group (MAG), BCEGI, Carillion PLC and GMPF.