Manchester government digital campus gets go ahead

Planning approval has been granted for the government’s proposed Manchester Digital Campus, which will bring 7,000 civil service jobs to the city-region.

Manchester City Council has granted planning permission to the Government Property Agency (GPA) scheme on the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats, which will comprise a state-of-the-art office complex as well as a new city centre park across the 5.5 acre site.

Once complete, the scheme will bring together a number of Civil Service departments with a focus around digital skills and create significant employment opportunities and economic benefits in the region.

Mark Bourgeois, CEO at the GPA, which purchased the former retail park site last year, said:

“We are delighted with the decision and are grateful for the support of the many stakeholders in Manchester. The GPA team is proud to be working on this exciting project in support of the Government’s growth mission.“

Leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Bev Craig said: 

“Our ambition has long been to bring the former retail park back into active use and working in partnership with the GPA we are delivering a quality, low carbon development that will bring 7,000 civil service jobs to Manchester in the coming years.

“The new digital campus plays to Manchester’s strengths. We have fostered one of the fastest growing tech and digital communities in the UK, with a growing international reputation. The transformation of this brownfield site supports our ongoing growth in the sector, which translates into quality employment and development opportunities for our residents.“

Both the GPA and Manchester City Council have been working together on the plans for Ancoats, culminating in a parallel proposal for the digital campus and an adjacent public park.

The council and the GPA held a joint consultation around emerging plans for the former retail site in August and September last year, inviting local residents, businesses and other stakeholders to help guide proposals to create the new government digital campus – delivered by the GPA – and a new city centre park space, delivered by the council.

Mark Bourgeois added:

“We are pleased to be working with Manchester City Council on these regeneration  plans, and look forward to creating fantastic and sustainable workplaces to support the transformation of the Civil Service.

“This proposed development, builds on the work MCC and the GPA undertook last year in putting in place an updated Strategic Regeneration Framework, and the shared ambition to regenerate the Ancoats former retail site, creating employment and wider business opportunities, supported by the digital campus.“