The area around the former Boddingtons Brewery at Great Ducie Street, Manchester, could become a small business hub focused on the tech, digital, creative and media sectors, according to a Manchester City Council report.

The Great Ducie Street area, close to Victoria Station and the NOMA office development area, is one of several being lined up to take over-spill from Manchester's Northern Quarter as the once-low-rent area gentrifies.

The report does not cover the Boddingtons Brewery site itself, although it does address the land around it.

The Boddingtons site is covered by a separate regeneration strategy agreed in 2015. Realty Estates proposed a 200K SF office development as part of a mixed-use scheme.

The latest document envisages Northern Quarter-style startups colonising the brewery's hinterland.

"Garment/textile technologies are creating new opportunities and in addition to this, commercial development could provide accommodation for businesses within digital, tech, creative and media sectors," a report to councillors said.

"These key growth sectors within the city have already created demand for flexible workspace. Commercial development will provide innovative and flexible commercial accommodation that is suitable for start-ups and SME’s, supporting the continued development of key growth sectors including digital, creative and tech industries."

The report proposed to replace large areas of surface car parking with residential development.