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December 17, 2025
Alex Timperley
5 mins
It has been an interesting year in the Manchester office market to say the least. It’s not always been easy, but we’re finishing the year with positivity. November brought the news of new investment in the sector and Manchester being named a national offices powerhouse.
In December we have seen more major moves and a new forecast for 2026 which shows the future is bright. The results of the Lambert Smith Hampton Regional Offices Report 2025 lead our news roundup this month, along with:
The Lambert Smith Hampton Regional Offices Report 2025 has highlighted Manchester’s resilience in the face of economic uncertainty. A lack of supply and increasing demand has been pushing office rents in the city higher and helped the sector as a whole weather the storm.
It has been tough at times, but the report forecasts Manchester’s headline office rental record will breach £45 p/sqft when the next phase of St. Michael’s launches, and then will reach £50 p/sqft by the end of 2026.
That’s a huge increase and shows just how desirable Manchester is for businesses from around the world. It also highlights a potential challenge for businesses who may want or need to be based here, but could potentially struggle to afford higher rents.
The easiest way to get the best value office space to rent in Manchester city centre is to contact the LEVEL team and let us give you a hand. Our inside knowledge of locations, contract structures and pricing can help you save money without compromising on quality. See our past successes here and then contact our team today for a free discovery call.
Insurance firm Canopius has traded a flexible lease at WeWork for a conventional leased office at 100 Barbirolli Square. The company is expanding fast and the new 10-year lease on 13,500 sqft of space will provide a platform for its tech and data teams during this period of growth.
Hannah Welch, group premises manager at Canopius, said:
“Manchester continues to stand out as one of the UK’s leading growth cities, with an exceptional talent pool and a vibrant business community.
“Securing high-quality space at 100 Barbirolli Square is an exciting milestone for Canopius and reflects our commitment to creating modern, collaborative work environments that support our people and our long-term ambitions. We’re thrilled to be strengthening our presence in such a forward-looking city.”
There aren’t many bigger names in the world of commercial property than Savills. The fact that the agent has doubled its Manchester city centre footprint is a firm vote of confidence in the city and its future.
The firm has taken an additional 15,300 sqft at the Belvedere on Booth Street, giving it the ground, first and fourth floors in 2026. It also means Savills has almost doubled its headcount in Manchester since the last office expansion.
James Evans, executive director at Savills, said:
“Manchester remains a critical market for our business. We are proud to have played a small part in the evolution of the real estate market in Manchester and look forward to the future with excitement.”
Protector Insurance has signed up to an additional 35,000 sqft of space at 3 Hardman Street in Spinningfields. The Scandinavian company has more than tripled its previous floorspace of 9,000 sqft as part of ambitious growth plans in Manchester.
Melissa Haigh, UK finance director of Protector Insurance, said:
"Over the last ten years, we have grown our UK business from a start-up of three people to over 200 employees, and we expect this growth to continue.
"Protector chose Manchester as the location for its UK head office, underwriting and claims functions, based upon the availability of local talent and the vibrant Manchester insurance market. Our expansion reflects our continued investment in the UK and our commitment to our geographic footprint in Manchester."
The £12.5m refurbishment of Aviary was completed in March 2025 and the building has proven to be extremely popular since the reopening. More than half of the building’s 110,000 sqft of floorspace has now been taken in one month following a large double deal.
Law firm Latham & Watkins (39,000 sqft) and accountancy firm Forvis Mazar (30,000 sqft) have both signed 10-year leases and will benefit from having that certainty in an increasingly competitive market.
This one has been in the works for a while. We initially reported on the move in October 2024 when plans were announced by Virgin Media O2 to relocate over 1,000 jobs into Manchester city centre.
Just over a year on and that new office is now open. The multi-million-pound space on John Dalton Street is now open and brings 1,100 jobs into the heart of Manchester. The agreement is for 10 years and will see the business take up 50% of Island, a net zero carbon workspace in the city centre.
Rob Orr, Chief Operating Officer, Virgin Media O2, said:
“Manchester is a thriving hub for innovation and creativity, and we’re proud to deepen our connection to the region with this significant investment. Our new North West HQ at Island will provide a modern, sustainable space for our people to collaborate and deliver for customers.”
Finally, as we see 2025 out, we are also waving off one of the most beloved co-working spaces in Manchester. The Ducie Street Warehouse was many things including a hotel, restaurant, bar, venue and flexible workspace.
It was a favourite spot for many businesses in Manchester, including LEVEL! We’ve enjoyed many an afternoon in there for work and pleasure, and will be sad to see it go. However, the new plans for a 15,000 sqft food hall mean it’s not disappearing entirely, just changing – and that’s never a bad thing.
We wish the team at Manchester Street Food good luck and can’t wait to visit once the new food hall is open!
Want to find your next leased, managed or serviced office space to rent? Book a call with our team today.
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