Treasury greenlight for plans to bring 8,800 civil service digital jobs to Greater Manchester

The business case for a new 900,000 sq ft workspace in Manchester has been approved by the Treasury, paving the way to bring 8,800 civil service digital jobs into the city-region.

Built on brownfield land in the city centre, the Manchester Digital Campus will bring together staff from multiple government departments with a focus on digital work.

Once operational – targeted for 2032 – the Campus will provide approximately 900,000 square feet of purpose-built workspace across two buildings. The new campus is part of the government’s Places for Growth programme to spread civil service jobs across the country to help drive regional growth. The development will also harness the North West’s existing digital expertise and fostering collaboration across departments and the wider digital sector in the region.

In addition to housing 8,800 workers once complete, construction is expected to support approximately 4,900 direct jobs over a four-year build period.

Philippa Harvey, Senior Responsible Owner for the MDC Programme, said:

This is the end of the beginning for a programme that has required extraordinary commitment from a huge number of people across government, in Manchester, and across the wider region. MDC is not just a new building – it is a transformation of how government works, bringing together digital expertise at scale in a world-class environment, fully embedded in the community we serve. I am enormously proud of what has been achieved by all involved and excited about what comes next.

Cllr Bev Craig OBE, Leader of Manchester City Council and GMCA Economy Lead, said:

This is a significant announcement for our city. The Manchester Digital Campus will be a landmark programme that cements Manchester’s growing global reputation in Digital and Cyber industries, creating major opportunities for residents and a huge boost to our city.

Transforming a derelict site will see thousands of Government jobs concentrating in Manchester, as well as supporting 4,900 construction jobs and an unprecedented £2.3bn in social value investment that will directly improve the lives of Mancunians and the communities they call home.