Go-ahead secured for Manchester Digital Campus
The Government Property Agency’s application for 900,000 sq ft of offices across two blocks at the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats has been greenlit, along with BTR homes in Burnage and the Moxy hotel’s extension in Spinningfields.
The GPA project reflects a £310m redevelopment of part of the 10.5-acre former Central Retail Park into a hub for 7,000 civil servants. Manchester City Council itself put forward plans for the development of the remaining segment of the site as a public park, designed by Planit.
Mark Bourgeois, chief executive 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.”
Euan Kellie Property Solutions advised on planning for the park. AtkinsRealis and Deloitte lead the professional team for Manchester Digital Campus, one of two major civil service hubs advancing in Manchester, along with a 130,000 sq ft office at Frist Street, where practical completion was reached this month.
Leader of the Council Bev Craig said: “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.”
The park – 85% larger than Sackville Gardens across the city, as deputy planning director Dave Roscoe informed the planning committee meeting in response to criticism that “this doesn’t go far enough” – will create a connection to the existing Cotton Field Park behind and through to Ancoats and New Islington.
A central lawn and plaza will create a green buffer to Great Ancoats Street, with various tiered gardens navigating the different level changes across the site.
Cllr Craig added: “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.”
Lib Dem Cllr Richard Kilpatrick was the only member to vote against.
The GPA exchanged contracts to acquire its 5.5 acre plot from the city council in May last year as plans for the parallel proposal came together, with a joint consultation held across August and September.
Bourgeois concluded: “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.”
The meeting also approved, in line with officer recommendation, a 115-home build-to-rent scheme at the B&M site in Burnage, a project altered from an earlier iteration that had been recommended for refusal.
The session saw lengthy debate over the Burnage project, unlike the Moxy’s 54-room upward expansion, which was unanimously nodded through.
