The Government Property Agency (GPA) has announced a significant milestone in the construction of its new state-of-the-art office building in Manchester’s city centre.
The new hub, located on First Street, has reached practical completion of its Category A (Cat A) fit out, marking the commencement of its lease.
The construction works have brought the nine-storey, approximately 12,000 square metre building to a stage where it is ready for the internal fit-out to begin. This milestone is a crucial step towards the building becoming fully operational.
Once completed, the new hub will accommodate around 2,600 civil servants from various government departments, including the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED), and the Department for Education (DfE). Additionally, more than 150 roles are expected to be relocated to Manchester from different government departments and agencies, further boosting the local economy.
Georgia Gould, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, said:
“It’s great to see the Manchester First Street Hub move onto this next stage of construction.
“UK Government Hubs across the country help to consolidate our estate. Not only cutting waste by removing old inefficient buildings from our portfolio, but also giving people across the country the chance to work in the Civil Service, and driving economic growth in the local area.”
The building is part of the Government Hubs Programme, which aims to support economic growth across the UK by rationalising the government’s estate in towns and cities. This programme plays a pivotal role in delivering modern, customer-focused, and varied workspaces where civil servants can thrive. The design of the new hub recognises the need for different types of workspaces to enable collaboration, creativity, and community, regardless of how people choose to work.
The GPA has completed a competitive tender process for the subsequent fit-out works and is expected to make an announcement in the coming weeks. This next phase will bring the building closer to being ready for service, continuing the countdown to its full operational status.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development in Manchester’s city centre, as the Government Property Agency continues to enhance the working environment for civil servants and support the local economy through its innovative Government Hubs Programme.
Image credit: iStock
