Allied London is set to launch its ‘mega campus’ Campfield in Manchester’s St. John’s district this June.
The 130,000 sq ft creative tech campus spans three buildings, including two iconic Victorian market halls.
It will be managed by flexible workspace provider Department, which currently manages locations in Manchester and Leeds housing 250 businesses and a 97% occupancy rate.
The development will aim to be a dynamic destination that blends professional life with social and cultural experiences, from morning coffee to late-night events.
Campfield Studios is the smaller of the two listed former market halls and will contain a series of creative and media studios, along with production spaces and a dramatic central atrium which can be hired for creative happenings, film and TV shoots, events, exhibitions, product launches, as well as groundbreaking virtual production.
Castlefield House is envisioned as a dynamic media workspace and hospitality hub, offering a Bauhaus-inspired design tailored for media and tech companies. Currently home to media post-production businesses, the building is set to attract larger media organisations as it continues to evolve.
The building will feature a spacious courtyard café, creating a vibrant work/social space, with contemporary studio facilities that front onto Liverpool Road.
Campfield House will be the city’s newest destination for socialising and entertainment, opening its doors to all. The café will serve up artisanal coffee and light bites, while the event space will host talks, performances and exhibitions under the building’s iconic glass roof.
Located on the mezzanine floor, the Campfield House Bar will be a design led hangout that comes alive in the evenings with an extensive wine list and a menu of world class cocktails.
At weekends, the campus will transform with vibrant craft markets and food stalls, welcoming all to experience the dynamic energy of the reimagined heritage buildings. Campfield House will officially open to the public in June.
With support from Manchester City Council’s ‘Culture in the City’ project, Campfield joins landmarks like Aviva Studios, Bonded Warehouse and Manchester Goods Yard in the St. John’s district.
The campus will also host the Exchange programme, a growth programme designed to support both startup and scaleup businesses.
Exchange, now in its ninth cohort, has supported over 1,000 individuals and 200 businesses, securing more than £15m in funding and raising £78m globally.
Michael Ingall, chief executive of Allied London, said: “Campfield will provide creative, tech and media businesses with the infrastructure and facilities they need to grow and develop. Importantly, it will once again be open for social gatherings and for the public to enjoy.
“The project will see these historically significant buildings given a new life and fully equipped to play an integral part in the next generation of artistic and creative output from the city’s new creative district.”
Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Campfield is a much-loved historic site that has sat empty and underutilised for so long. We’ve been supporting this project from the start, bringing these important heritage buildings brought back into active use, supporting the city’s ongoing growth and boosting employment opportunities in some of the city’s key emerging sectors.
“Manchester’s reputation is growing globally as a leader in the creative, tech and media industries, and this new hub is another example of creating a supportive ecosystem where businesses can start-up, scale-up and thrive. It’s great to see this scheme come to life, bringing a renewed energy to Campfield.”
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