A new digital civil service campus has been approved for Manchester.

The outline business case has been formally approved by the Treasury.

The campus will be built on brownfield land in central Manchester and will bring together around 8,800 people from multiple government departments with a focus on digital work. 

It is planned to be operational by 2032, with construction expected to support approximately 4,900 direct jobs over a four-year build period.

It will be delivered by the Cabinet Office and Government Property Agency in close collaboration with the multiple government departments involved.

Manchester Digital Campus (MDC) will provide approximately 900,000 square feet of purpose-built workspace across two buildings.

The government has an ambition of having one in ten civil servants in technology and digital roles by 2030.

Cabinet Office Minister Anna Turley said: "We are turning disused land into a digital centre for government, boosting local growth and supporting regeneration of Manchester’s vibrant city centre.

"I am a firm believer that the best ideas often come from those on the frontline. Our plans will move decision-making out of Whitehall and into cities like Manchester, to ensure national policy is informed by local expertise. This will deliver real, tangible benefits for communities across the North, as well as saving the taxpayer billions of pounds."

Philippa Harvey, Senior Responsible Owner for the MDC Programme: "This is the end of the beginning for a programme that has required extraordinary commitment from a huge number of people across government, in Manchester, and across the wider region. MDC is not just a new building – it is a transformation of how government works, bringing together digital expertise at scale in a world-class environment, fully embedded in the community we serve. I am enormously proud of what has been achieved by all involved and excited about what comes next."