A huge project to introduce a new, 900,000 sq ft government office to Manchester city centre has been approved.
The £310 million development, is set to be a Government Property Agency (GPA) Campus for more than 7,000 civil servants, who will be relocating from London to Manchester
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said the government wanted to move decision-making “closer to communities all across the UK”.
Cllr leader Bev Craig said: “The new Manchester Digital Campus will be transformational to our city. We have been working closely with this Government to bring forward this flagship digital campus to Ancoats that will bring 7,000 quality jobs to Manchester, building on the success of growing Government digital and AI cluster already in the city and turbocharge our plans for economic growth in digital, AI and cyber sectors.”
The shift from London to Manchester is being seen across several districts and industries. According to recent research by Savills, office take up in Manchester reached 1.22 million sq ft in 2024, reflecting a 29% increase on 2023, while sitting 17% higher than the five-year annual average. With the demand for office space in the city centre soaring, more people than ever are working directly in the city centre, therefore increasing the demand for accommodation.
