A new government office complex in Manchester has been given planning consent.
Manchester Digital Campus is to be built on the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats after the city’s planning committee approved the Government Property Agency’s (GPA) scheme at a meeting.
The campus is designed to bring together Civil Service departments with a focus around digital skills and create significant employment opportunities and economic benefits in the region.
The GPA has been working with Manchester City Council on the plans for Ascots, which include the digital campus, delivered by the GPA, and a new city centre park space, delivered by the council.
Mark Bourgeois, CEO at 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.
"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 new park is designed to improve access to quality green space in Manchester city centre. The park has been designed in collaboration with landscape architects Planit-IE following public consultation.
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.
"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."
