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July 30, 2025
Alex Timperley
5 mins
We have taken a cautious tone in recent months. Despite increasing movement in Manchester’s office market, it’s still tough out there and we’re a fair distance from the next market peak.
However, there have been positive signs this month and there's lots to look forward to. Progress isn’t linear and good news today isn’t a sign that everything is back to normal – but it’s only right to celebrate milestones as they happen.
Our July 2025 Manchester office market summary includes…
The Republic headlines the next phase of growth at Mayfield and is a major new development for Landsec. It will not only be Manchester’s first office development within a public park, but it’s also the first new office building in the North West to break ground so far in 2025.
With space for more than 2,000 jobs, it’s expected that The Republic will boost the city’s economy by up to £100m per year. It’s also part of a larger programme that will see Mayfield Park become 40% larger, the construction of another 879 homes and the completion of Manchester’s biggest cycle store and EV charging point.
Henrietta Nowne, Development Director at Landsec, said: “This is a unique place for forward-thinking businesses looking to create the best environment for their talent. At Mayfield you will get unrivalled connectivity as one of the closest new offices to Piccadilly Station. That, coupled with the immense health and wellbeing benefits of the Park, make this an opportunity unlike anywhere else in Manchester."
Hill Dickinson has completed its move into a 18,200 sqft custom-built space at St Michael’s in Manchester city centre. The prestigious law firm will occupy the entirety of the building’s highest office floor following a relocation from their previous space on Fountain Street.
The sustainability benefits built into St Michael’s were a big draw for Hill Dickinson. The space occupied by the company has achieved SKA Gold already, with a NABERS 5-star rating and BREEAM Outstanding status on the way.
Between that and an interior design focussed on the needs of its staff, Hill Dickinson has taken steps to give employees what they want and secure the firm’s status as a top destination for the best talent. It’s one of the most prominent “flight to quality” moves we’ve seen in Manchester to date.
Craig Scott, CEO at Hill Dickinson, said: “Our move to St Michael’s is another transformational step forward in our firm’s history, and it prepares us for many more years of success and growth to come. Our greatest asset is the remarkable legal minds that deliver the highest quality work for our clients, which is why this is more than just a relocation, it’s an investment in creating a place where our people can truly excel.
“This move also supports us in becoming a responsible business and reducing our operational emissions. St Michael’s is setting the standard for net zero in Manchester, and we are proud to be one of the first businesses to join them on this journey.”
Circle Square is firmly established as one of the most desirable office spaces in Manchester. Now, Bruntwood has completed the final building, No 3, and finalised the £750m redevelopment of the Square.
No 3 brings a further 267,000 sqft of workspace to Manchester and has already secured blue chip tenants including Auto Trader and the Information Commissioner’s Office. It’s another highly sustainable development too, striving for a BREEAM Excellent status, a NABERS five-star rating, and an EPC A rating, with the whole site powered by 100% renewable energy.
John Marland, chief development officer at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Completing No 3 Circle Square is a landmark moment – not just for Bruntwood SciTech and our delivery team, but for Manchester’s innovation economy.
“This building represents our ambition to create world-class infrastructure that accelerates the growth of the UK’s most exciting businesses, and we’re looking forward to seeing the creativity and innovations that grow here in the future.
3PB Barristers have become the latest legal name to open a new office in Manchester. The firm’s new space at 11 York Street is their first in the city and will serve as the regional hub for the North West.
It’s the latest in a series of law firms which have chosen Manchester for their next expansion. The city’s strong professional services community, well established legal sector, busy courts, transport links and access to skilled talent were cited as key motivating factors for 3PB to choose Manchester.
CEO Simon Astill said: "Opening our Manchester office represents an exciting new chapter for 3PB Barristers.
"Manchester's vibrant business ecosystem, talented workforce, and strategic location make it an ideal base for our continued growth in the North West. This expansion reflects our confidence in the regional market and our commitment to providing exceptional service to our clients."
It’s not just professional services that Manchester is good at! Global events partner agency asembl.group has also opened up in Manchester, adding to their portfolio of bases in the South East, Poland, Dubai and Sydney.
The company helps global brands put on unforgettable live events and experiences, making them a great fit for Manchester. There’s so much going on here that it’s a natural place for an events company to set up shop. The community and culture that exists here was an important factor for the business.
Gavin Farley, CEO of asembl.group, said: “Above all, it’s a demonstration of our commitment to not standing still. We’re incredibly passionate about the service we provide throughout asembl.group, and Manchester is full of possibilities to introduce new brands to the global capabilities of the group.”
“Brands are migrating north and tapping into the rich communities that now exist outside London. The North traditionally hasn’t been as closely watched as London, giving brands ripe opportunities to take more risks and be more creative when it comes to their brand experiences.”
Zopa Bank has become the latest bank to view a Manchester office as essential for their expansion plans. They’ve followed in the footsteps of Cavendish and Bank of New York Mellon Corporation to see the benefits of Manchester’s “thriving tech ecosystem, strong financial services presence, and deep talent pool”.
Their new space on John Dalton Street will initially hold 50 people, but the bank hopes to expand to 500 people in Manchester in the future.
Iain Kendrick, chief people officer, Zopa Bank, said: “With more than 85% of our customers based outside the capital, expanding into Manchester allows us to be closer to our diverse, nationwide customer base, access new talent, and accelerate our ambitious growth journey.
“Manchester has the energy, connectivity and capability we need to support our next stage of expansion as we make Zopa a top-choice employer across regions.”
Finally, two Manchester companies have moved from One Express Building to Two Express Building in deals totalling 13,500 sqft.
Eleven Sports Media and Ross & Azzuro both outgrew their previous spaces, but decided to stick with the Express Buildings due to the service provided by building owners PJD Group. One of the new spaces in Two Express was recently vacated by LEVEL client CTI Digital, leaving a natural gap for a growing business to step into.
Mark Davies, managing director of PJD Group, said “I am delighted that two growing businesses have chosen to relocate to a building within the PJD Group, this is evidence that providing quality forward fitted suites in amenity-rich buildings helps to foster a community spirit.”
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