Manchester Digital Campus will be a state-of-the-art hub constructed 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 on Thursday 20 February, 2025.

Plans for the new Manchester digital campus

The campus will bring together a number of Civil Service departments with a focus around digital skills and create significant employment opportunities and economic benefits in the region.

Alongside the new campus, the new park will improve access to quality green space in Manchester city centre, creating a connection to the existing Cotton Field Park behind and through to Ancoats and New Islington.

Images of the new Manchester Digital Campus

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.”

View from the water of the new Manchester Digital Campus

Mike McNicholas, Managing Director for Infrastructure UK & Ireland at AtkinsRéalis said: “We are proud to have provided the multi-disciplinary design and engineering services to help get this important development approval from the planning committee with our client the GPA.

“It is a design that delivers on our client’s inspiring vision for a modern, sustainable workspace which reflects the requirements of today’s workforce, while at the same time creating new green spaces for the benefit of the wider community.

“The new digital campus will transform this part of Manchester and will demonstrate the value of a place-led approach to development, creating jobs and opportunities for people in the region to support long-term economic growth.”

Close up view of plans for the digital campus

For the full statement from the GPA, see - Manchester Digital Campus gets green light

About AtkinsRéalis

Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital. News and information are available at www.atkinsrealis.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Manchester Digital Campus designed by AtkinsRéalis gets green light

Simon Peevers

About AtkinsRéalis

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