No10 North: Manchester Digital Campus out of the running
New Islington’s loss could be First Street’s gain, as Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Northern office prepares to leave its temporary base at Heron House.
Widespread reports that the 900,000 sq ft Manchester Digital Campus off Great Ancoats Street would be the future home of No10 North have been rebuffed by Cabinet under-secretary Sally Jameson.
In a written answer to a question from Conservative Ben Obese-Jecty, Jameson flat out stated that early media speculation as to No10 North’s future home was incorrect. “There are currently no plans to establish the No10 North office within the Manchester Digital Campus,” she wrote.
The decision to shy away from Manchester Digital Campus makes sense, considering groundworks on the civil service campus only started in June, with the main build not due to begin until 2028. The building’s target opening date of 2032 would have meant that No10 North would not have been able to move in within this Parliament.
Which begs the question: where could No10 North go?
Enter the Government Property Agency’s 130,000 sq ft block at First Street. This is the lead contender, according to the Manchester Evening News.
PIC forward-funded the £105m civil service hub, which reached practical completion in early 2025. Credit: via Camargue
Downing Street and the Government Property Agency declined to comment on the speculation, with Downing Street press officers noting an announcement would be forthcoming on No10 North’s location.
Still, First Street makes sense according to market sources. The £105m, nine-storey building reached practical completion in February 2025. Fit-out, as of six months ago, was still ongoing with Aitken Turnbull Architects leading.
The First Street building is fully let to the GPA, which means the government would have full control over its security – another key requirement for a space let to such a prominent government office.
It has also always been envisioned as being a home for the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government – which currently counts Piccadilly Gate as its Manchester base. It had also been designed for the Department for Business and Trade to occupy.
No10 North’s mission to expediate local economic growth and devolution therefore fits in well with the work already set to be done in the building.
If No10 North does move to First Street, it will find itself in a true mixed-use campus, with neighbours that include the theatre HOME, co-living residences from Downing, student accommodation by VITA, an INNSiDE by Melia, and offices for WSP and Willis Towers Watson, among others.
That vibrant mix was intentional, according to ASK Real Estate development director Jamie Hills. ASK has been the driver of First Street, transforming it from the former Gaythorn Gas Works into the community it is today.
“What we’re trying to create is a true-mixed use neighbourhood, a place where people thrive,” Hills told Place North West.
Jon Matthews Architects designed the final new-build office element of First Street, which received planning permission in 2023. Credit: via consultation materials
ASK’s masterplan for First Street is nearly complete. Only one plot remains – 10A, which sits next to the GPA civil service hub. Planning permission to convert this plot into a 13-storey office block was approved in 2023.
One can expect that interest in pre-letting that office block might be piqued, should the rumours prove true and No10 North set up at First Street.
But in the meantime, one can expect the robust security presence and barriers to continue at Heron House.
