Government Property Agency Hub at First Street reaches completion

The new GPA hub at First Street has reached practical completion and has now been handed over for the internal fit out works to commence.

Designed by Jon Matthews Architects, the nine-storey 131,000 sq ft building will accommodate around 2,600 civil servants from 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). Once the hub is operational, more than 150 roles will be relocated to Manchester from across a number of different Government departments and agencies.

The building forms part of the Government Hubs Programme supporting economic growth across the UK and the design recognises that different types of work require different spaces to enable collaboration, creativity and community regardless of how people choose to work.

John Hughes, Managing Director at Ask Real Estate said: “Bringing the GPA hub to practical completion is a huge testament to our commitment to driving sustainability in the workplace sector. By achieving a NABERS 5.5 Design for Performance rating, the first building in Manchester city centre to reach this milestone – supports the high ambitions set by HM Government.  First Street and its extended neighbourhood will be boosted significantly when the GPA takes occupation.”

Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Georgia Gould commented: “It’s great to see the Manchester First Street Hub move onto the 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.”

Georgina Dunn, the GPA’s Interim Director of Capital Projects added: “It’s very gratifying to reach this significant stage in the programme. This new state-of-the-art office will provide a home for civil servants from across the government in Manchester, making it one of the largest hubs for cross-departmental collaboration and operation outside London. The GPA remains immensely proud of the industry-leading sustainability, accessibility and workplace standards delivered by the Government Hubs Programme.”

Lead developer Ask Real Estate and its joint venture partner, Richardson, secured a full pre-let of the Grade A BREEAM Excellent office building to the GPA in 2022 which was then forward-funded by Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) with a £105 million investment.