Procurement bosses at the University have started the search for architects and engineers to deliver design work on the first major project, a £200m engineering campus.

They hope to have a team on board by June to work up plans to allow construction works tenders to be invited in 2014/15.

The £700m first phase will be delivered over the next six years and will throw a lifeline to north west’s building industry.

This phase includes the new engineering campus, new centres for the school of law and Manchester Business School, a major refurbishment of the university library, a bigger students’ union and new medical school.

Investment will also go into building a combined heat and power facility, as well as a new car park and the refurbishment of the telescope at Jodrell Bank.

The University will also spend several million pounds to improve the University’s public realm and landscaping in order to capitalise on the future improvements to Oxford Road, which will see wider pavements, tree-lined boulevards and the removal of all cars during 2015.

Outline plans have been drawn up for a second £300m phase which would begin in 2018 and end in 2022.

This second phase would create a biomedical campus around the existing Stopford Building, a new health centre for staff and students, and includes refurbishments in the schools of computer science, earth, atmospheric and environmental sciences, mathematics and chemistry.

Consultants can register via the University’s –Intend system by 15 March.