The Government Property Agency (GPA) has secured planning consent to build a 890,000 sq ft office campus on the former Central Retail Park site in Ancoats, Manchester.
The Manchester Digital Campus scheme will comprise two buildings of seven and eight storeys. The development will also feature retail, a cycle hub and a new park designed in collaboration with landscape architects Planit-IE.
The GPA exchanged contracts to acquire 5.5 acres of the former retail park site from the city council in May last year.
Mark Bourgeois, CEO of the GPA, 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. We are pleased to be working with Manchester City Council [MCC] 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 gramework, and the shared ambition to regenerate the Ancoats former retail site, creating employment and wider business opportunities, supported by the digital campus.”
Bev Craig, leader of MCC, added: “Gaining planning approval for both the GPA’s digital campus and the latest city centre park is the launchpad for the transformation of this site. 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.
“We stand ready to work with this government to bring forward other ambitious investments in Manchester that can continue our path of sustainable economic growth, supporting our residents to thrive. At the same time, the new park is a welcome addition to our city centre green spaces and a reimagining of the former retail site that has for many years acted only as a barrier to the community behind – and an eyesore in one of the most exciting parts of our city.”
Mike McNicholas, managing director for infrastructure UK and Ireland at AtkinsRéalis, which designed the campus, said: “We are proud to have provided the multi-disciplinary design and engineering services to help get this important development approval from the planning committee with our client the GPA. It is a design that delivers on our client’s inspiring vision for a modern, sustainable workspace which reflects the requirements of today’s workforce, while at the same time creating new green spaces for the benefit of the wider community.
“The new digital campus will transform this part of Manchester and will demonstrate the value of a place-led approach to development, creating jobs and opportunities for people in the region to support long-term economic growth.”
