Govt buys five acres at former Central Retail Park

The land deal prepares the way for the Government Property Agency to build its 800,000 sq ft Manchester Digital Campus, with construction set to begin in 2026.

Contracts between GPA and landowner Manchester City Council have been exchanged, with the deal for the five acres at the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats on track to complete next year. A price was not disclosed. Gowling WLG acted for GPA on the deal.

The Manchester Digital Campus is to become the hub for 7,000 government employees. A planning application for the campus is due this summer.

Parliamentary secretary for the Cabinet Office, Alex Burghart, said: “This latest expansion in Manchester not only represents our ongoing commitment to investing in digital excellence, but also signifies our dedication to contributing positively to the city’s vibrant community and economy.

Burghart continued: “We are excited to create more modern and productive work environments in the heart of the city, where civil servants from across the North West can be inspired and take pride in delivering the best possible service to the taxpayer.”

Manchester City Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig described the GPA deal as representing a “significant investment that will complement the wider regeneration story” of the city centre.

“We have worked closely with the GPA to unlock the potential of the former retail site through this development, which will sit aside a new public green space delivered by the council – improving access to the existing Cotton Field Park,” she added.

The exchange of contracts for the site has been in the works for months, with MCC having signed off the land disposal back in January.

GPA’s civil service hub would be the first phase of MCC’s wider plans for the 10.5-acre former Central Retail Park site, which it acquired for £37m in 2017 from TH Real Estate. MCC’s ambition for the site includes up to 1.25m sq ft of offices with ground floor retail and leisure spaces, as well as public realm.