A civil service base under construction in Manchester has been designated for Andy Burnham's proposed No 10 North, reports indicate. The northern government hub will be situated in Ancoats, on the outskirts of Manchester city centre, but the site is not expected to be completed until 2028, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Burnham's Pledge to Shift Government North
Burnham, widely anticipated to succeed Keir Starmer as prime minister in July, has committed to relocating part of his operation to the north. He has called for a radical overhaul of the "broken" Westminster system and stated he would split his time between London and Greater Manchester. The business case for the Manchester Digital Campus in Ancoats was formally approved by the Treasury in March. The campus is being built on brownfield land and will consolidate approximately 8,800 staff from multiple government departments, focusing on digital work. The site aims to be fully operational by 2032 and will provide around 900,000 sq ft of purpose-built workspace across two buildings.
Interim Office and Local Government Context
Burnham's team is reportedly seeking an interim office in Manchester city centre for use in the meantime. As mayor, Burnham has been based in the Tootal Buildings on Oxford Street. The city council is located in the town hall, which is undergoing a major renovation project costing upwards of £500 million. The Grade I-listed building closed in 2018 for repairs, now scheduled for completion by spring 2027. Caroline Simpson, chief executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, has been appointed by Burnham to lead his northern operations.
Reactions from Politicians and Business Leaders
Burnham's plan to devolve parts of Westminster to the north has been largely welcomed. Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said the move "will help ensure that the relocation of civil servants to places such as Darlington, York and Manchester delivers its full potential." He added: "These new government offices are helping regenerate those places, but ministers themselves have not yet made effective use of them. A regular ministerial presence outside Whitehall would strengthen decision-making and bring government closer to the communities it serves." Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, said Burnham's proposals to transfer more power to regional mayors "will help us lower the cost of living, regenerate our high streets and enable good growth across our regions." Huw Merriman, chair of the Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board and former Conservative rail minister, noted that Burnham's plan to reinstate the HS2 rail link to London "is the real prize."
