GPA selects Wates for Cat B fit-out of Manchester First Street Hub

Following a competitive tender process, the Government Property Agency (GPA) has appointed Wates to conduct the Category B (Cat B) fit-out of its First Street Hub in Manchester.

The contract award comes as the construction of the new government office enters its final phase of construction.

Under the agreement, Wates will be responsible for the hub’s fit-out works, ensuring the nine-storey building is functional for office use. It marks another key development in the programme following the recent practical completion of the Category A (Cat A) fit-out and lease commencement.

Launched as part of the GPA’s Government Hubs Programme, the Manchester First Street Hub will accommodate around 2,600 civil servants from departments including 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). It is earmarked for completion in Autumn 2026.

Just a few minutes’ walk from Oxford Road and Deansgate rail stations, First Street Hub has been designed to be class-leading, meeting inclusive and accessible design standards. The design for the 12,000 sq m building will support a variety of different working styles including spaces to enable collaboration, creativity and community.

Georgina Dunn, the GPA’s Interim Director of Capital Projects, said: “Appointing the Cat B contractor was the final major hurdle to overcome before the home straight of delivering this exceptional building. The hub will provide a state-of-the-art office space for thousands of civil servants and will be one of the largest cross-departmental hubs outside London, it also has enviable sustainability credentials with the building achieving a NABERS 5.5* rating – ranking it among the most sustainable buildings in the UK.”

Scott Camp, MD of Wates’ fit-out and refurbishment business, Smartspace, said: “We are delighted to continue our successful partnership with the Government Property Agency following our work at Darlington Economics Campus and 2 Ruskin Square in Croydon.

“Securing the contract for the Cat B fit-out at Manchester First Street is a testament to our expertise in delivering high-quality, modern office environments. This project will provide thousands of civil servants with a state-of-the-art workspace, enabling them to foster collaboration and efficiency. It also reinforces our commitment to our purpose – ‘Reimagining places for people to thrive’ – by creating another exceptional workspace that supports productivity and wellbeing.”

The £105 million development, which was forward-funded by the Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), supports the Government Hubs Programme’s aim of securing growth across the country. The programme is rationalising the government’s estate in towns and cities across the UK, playing a pivotal role in delivering modern, customer-focused and varied workspaces where civil servants can thrive.