With Andy Burnham now officially installed as the UK’s Prime Minister, his plans for a No 10 North are starting to take shape.
According to the latest reports, his northern headquarters will be based in Ancoats.
It will form the centrepiece of his devolution plans as he moves political power away from Westminster and into the regions.
Burnham argues that too many decisions affecting housing, transport, planning, regeneration and economic development are still made in Whitehall rather than in the communities they affect.
Permanent centre of government outside London
No 10 North is intended to change that by creating a permanent centre of government outside London where ministers and senior officials can work alongside regional leaders and local institutions.
There have, though, been relatively few details about how it would all work or where it would be located.
Burnham is now said to have chosen Manchester’s Digital Campus as its home. The Government Property Agency development is being built on the former Central Retail Park site close to Great Ancoats Street and forms part of the wider regeneration of Ancoats and the eastern side of Manchester city centre.
North West’s digital and cyber corridor
The area is within the North West’s growing digital and cyber corridor, with nearby developments such as Circle Square and Enterprise City home to an impressive array of firms, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Roku, Auto Trader and Booking.com.
The campus scheme is already under construction following planning approval in 2024 and Treasury backing earlier this year.
When complete, it will provide around 900,000 sq ft of office space across two glass-fronted buildings and accommodate approximately 8,800 staff. It is intended to bring together civil servants currently spread across a range of government departments and locations, with a particular focus on technology, digital services, data and artificial intelligence.
In addition to the civil servants, reports suggest Burnham and his senior team will operate from the campus for at least one day per week.
Major government hubs attract others
In addition, major government hubs tend to attract contractors, consultants and professional services firms that work closely with government departments.
The first staff are expected to move into the campus from around 2028, with the scheme being completed in phases in the early 2030s.
Ancoats is a highly symbolic choice for Burnham, whose political reputation is closely linked to Manchester’s regeneration. Few parts of Manchester have undergone a more dramatic transformation over the past two decades. Once characterised by derelict industrial land and empty mills, the area has become one of the city’s most successful regeneration stories, with thousands of new homes, offices, hotels, restaurants and technology businesses transforming the district.
Temporary accommodation
Until the development work is completed, Burnham is expected to require temporary accommodation, with multiple reports suggesting it could be Heron House. Located on Albert Square opposite Manchester Town Hall, the government office building already houses civil servants from a number of departments and would provide a ready-made base while work on the Digital Campus continues.
No doubt more details will emerge over the next few weeks as Burnham gets his feet under the table, but the arrival of No 10 North could further accelerate Ancoats’ already impressive transformation. The influx of thousands of civil servants and related businesses will provide a huge boost to demand and property values, as well as increasing the need for infrastructure, including schools, retail, leisure facilities and commercial space.
Image credit: Government Property Agency
