Starling coming into land in Manchester 

The challenger bank is understood to be close to agreeing a deal to open its first office in the city at Barings’ Landmark off St Peter’s Square. 

Starling Bank, which was founded in 2014, announced it was looking for a Manchester office late last year. 

At the time, founder and chief executive Anne Boden said there was “never any doubt that Manchester would house [the company’s] first step into the North”. 

The bank also has offices in Dublin, London, Cardiff, and Southampton, which accommodate around 2,000 employees. 

If terms are agreed at Barings’ 180,000 sq ft Landmark, Starling would join a growing roster of high-profile tenants. 

These include another bank, Santander, which signed an 11-year lease on 14,000 sq ft in January, and Xero, which set a new headline rent for Manchester when it took the top floor at £40/sq ft late last year. 

The other occupiers within the building are Allianz, JLL, RSM, HSBC, Grant Thornton, and flexible workspace provider Industrious. 

Leasing agents on Landmark are CBRE and JLL. 

Starling was contacted for comment and Barings declined to comment.