Lucy Ketley, sales and marketing director at ATG Access, explores how No.10 North could change Manchester’s physical security requirements and what this could mean for future infrastructure planning
The opening of No.10 North in Manchester marks a significant moment in the UK’s political landscape. While much of the attention has rightly focused on what this means for devolution, regional growth and the redistribution of political power, there is another conversation that deserves equal prominence.
How does a city adapt its infrastructure, public realm and security when it becomes home to a permanent central government presence?
A new civic role for Manchester
Manchester has long been recognised as the UK’s second city in economic terms. It is home to global businesses, leading universities, major transport hubs and one of the country’s fastest-growing digital economies.
Now, with No.10 North established as a working base for ministers and civil servants, the city is also taking on a more prominent role in national governance. That shift carries implications that extend well beyond politics.
Every city grows in response to its changing function. Industrial centres required canals and railways. Commercial centres demanded office districts and transport connectivity. A city with an expanding governmental presence requires something different again, such as resilient public spaces and infrastructure capable of supporting critical national activity while remaining open, accessible and welcoming.
Invisible security in the modern public realm
This is not about creating barriers or turning civic spaces into heavily fortified environments. Modern protective security has advanced significantly. Today, the most successful security measures are often those the public never notices. Rather than dominating the streetscape, they are carefully integrated into the design of places, supporting everyday life while quietly reducing risk.
Government buildings no longer exist as isolated destinations surrounded by empty streets. They sit within mixed-use neighbourhoods alongside offices, homes, hotels, restaurants, transport interchanges and public squares. Thousands of people move through these environments every day. As a result, protecting government functions is no longer simply about safeguarding individual buildings; it is about understanding how the wider public realm operates.
Manchester is by no means starting from a blank sheet. The city has invested significantly in creating safe, welcoming public spaces, with protective measures already integrated across transport infrastructure, commercial districts and major civic spaces. Those investments provide a strong foundation. The opportunity now is to build on that success, ensuring future development reflects Manchester’s growing central government presence and that security is considered not just at individual sites, but across the wider urban environment.
The opening of No.10 North also comes at a time when concerns around the safety of elected representatives and those working alongside them are growing. Recent reports highlighting increasing levels of abuse and physical attacks experienced by MPs’ staff demonstrate that protecting democratic institutions is no longer solely a Westminster issue. As government activity becomes more geographically dispersed, so too must the thinking around protective security.
Reshaping regeneration and development
Manchester has built an international reputation for regeneration. Former industrial areas have been transformed into thriving commercial districts, cultural destinations and residential neighbourhoods. Major investment continues across transport, housing, innovation and digital infrastructure, creating one of Europe’s most dynamic urban economies.
The arrival of No.10 North adds another dimension to the city’s future development.
As government functions become more established, the surrounding area will inevitably change. Increased footfall, visiting officials, supporting organisations, media activity and associated public services will all influence how neighbourhoods develop. Manchester’s regeneration has consistently balanced commercial growth, connectivity and high-quality public spaces. As the city’s civic role expands, future schemes have an opportunity to build on that success by incorporating an additional layer of resilience alongside those existing priorities.
Designing security into placemaking
The most successful developments consider security alongside sustainability, accessibility and placemaking from the earliest planning stages. As Manchester’s national role grows, embedding this approach consistently across future regeneration will become even more valuable.
Planning for security early is invariably more effective than retrofitting protective measures later. It allows security requirements to be integrated into the overall vision for a development, rather than added in response to changing risks.
Just as importantly, it’s not simply a question of what security measures are introduced, but how they are introduced. Modern protective security can be woven into the fabric of the public realm through landscaping, street layouts, seating, lighting and public art. When thoughtfully designed, these features support security while enhancing the character, accessibility and commercial vitality of a place.
The objective is not to make places feel more secure by making them feel more restrictive – quite the opposite. The best protective infrastructure is often the least noticeable, creating environments that feel open, welcoming and people-focused while quietly delivering the resilience they require.
Connected networks and collaborative planning
Transport infrastructure also becomes increasingly significant in this context. Railway stations, Metrolink interchanges, pedestrian routes and surrounding public spaces form part of the wider network that supports government activity. Their resilience contributes directly to the functioning of the city as a political, commercial and cultural centre.
This reinforces the importance of collaboration. Architects, planners, developers, engineers, transport authorities, local government and security specialists all have a role to play in ensuring future developments meet the changing needs of the city. Protective security should form part of a broader conversation about creating places that remain adaptable, connected and welcoming for decades to come.
There is also a compelling economic argument. Confidence is one of the foundations of investment. Businesses, institutions and developers are increasingly attracted to cities that demonstrate resilience alongside ambition. Secure, well-designed public spaces support economic activity because they help create environments that remain functional, attractive and accessible, even as their national significance grows.
No.10 North: Adapting for the future
Manchester has consistently demonstrated its ability to reinvent itself. It has transformed from an industrial powerhouse into a global centre for advanced manufacturing, digital innovation, higher education and professional services. The establishment of No.10 North represents another chapter in that story.
The challenge now is ensuring future investment builds on the strong foundations already in place, so the city’s physical environment keeps pace with its growing political importance.
That means looking beyond the walls of government buildings and considering the wider urban environment that surrounds them. It means recognising that resilient public spaces, integrated protective infrastructure and thoughtful placemaking are not competing priorities but complementary ones. It also means viewing regeneration not simply as economic development, but as an opportunity to create places that are fit for an expanded civic purpose.
The success of No.10 North will ultimately be measured by more than the decisions made within its walls. It will also be reflected in how well Manchester continues to adapt to its growing national role, creating a city that remains open, connected and welcoming while providing the resilience expected of a city with an increasingly significant central government presence.
Done well, the best security will be almost invisible. Yet it will underpin everything that allows Manchester to thrive as both a dynamic regional capital and an increasingly important location for national decision-making.
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