Piccadilly HS2 station will trigger move for 2,500 civil servants
PLANS to build a new HS2 station at Piccadilly will lead to thousands of civil servants relocating to a landmark building, it has been announced.
The building in First Street, will be the home of a new government hub and is expected to host 2,500 civil servants from 2025.
The Manchester First Street Hub will open provide a new home for civil servants currently based in the Piccadilly Gate office. Piccadilly Gate will be demolished to build a new HS2 station at Piccadilly.
A lease agreement has been signed by the Government Property Agency (GPA) with developer Ask Real Estate and its joint venture partner, The Richardson Family, for a c.12,000sqm site in First Street.
Under the government’s Places for Growth programme, 22,000 Civil Service roles will be moved out of London by 2030. More than 700 roles across a number of government departments have already been relocated to Manchester.
By 2025, the Places for Growth programme will relocate more than 2,500 civil service roles from Greater London to Manchester. Departments moving roles include the Cabinet Office, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, Department for Education and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
The government said the move of Civil Service roles to Manchester is expected to generate £31m in economic benefits for the city, down to increased footfall and spending from staff. Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said: “The First Street development reaffirms Her Majesty’s Government’s long-term commitment to Manchester.
“The Places for Growth programme is delivering high quality government jobs across the whole country, and ensuring that Whitehall can take advantage of the wisdom and experience from people all over the United Kingdom.
“This new site will provide a home for civil servants from at least four different government departments, making it one of the largest hubs for cross-government collaboration and operation outside London.
“By the time this site opens in 2025, 2,500 civil servants will have been relocated from Greater London to Manchester. I am pleased that the government has secured them a new home with office working at its heart, which will bring tens of millions of pounds to the Greater Manchester economy.”
The Manchester First Street Hub will open in 2025 and provide a new home for civil servants currently based in the Piccadilly Gate office. Piccadilly Gate will be demolished to build a new HS2 station at Piccadilly.