The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has announced it will relocate its national headquarters to Manchester in autumn 2026. The regulator, responsible for upholding information rights in the public interest, will move to the Circle Square development on Oxford Road.
The decision follows a detailed review of options ahead of the upcoming expiration of the lease on the ICO’s current office in Wilmslow, Cheshire, where it has been based for 40 years. The ICO has agreed a lease for 20,000 sq ft of workspace at Bruntwood SciTech’s No.3 Circle Square.
Jen Green, Executive Director – Strategy and Resources at the ICO, commented: “Our relocation to Circle Square will create a working environment that better supports how we operate now and into the future. The new space will provide a more flexible, collaborative setting for our teams, with improved access to the facilities and connections we need.
“Wilmslow has been a welcome home for the ICO for 40 years, and we will continue to have a small presence in the area beyond next year. Moving to Manchester puts us close to universities and other organisations working in data and digital, and will also support our efforts to attract new and diverse talent and strengthen the way we engage with the wider sector.”
The ICO stated that relocating to the Oxford Road Corridor places the regulator at the heart of one of Europe’s most dynamic knowledge quarters, offering direct access to Manchester’s world-leading universities and a highly skilled graduate talent pool.
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, welcomed the decision: “We welcome the ICO’s decision to make Manchester its new national headquarters. It is further evidence of how attractive our city – with a huge talent pool, access to expertise including from our world class universities, and national and global connections – is proving to employers considering the best place to be.”
Image source: Bruntwood
