'It's just going to ruin the vista': Ancoats residents divided over Burnham's 'Number 10 North' plans

Ancoats is used to change. Manchester's prime example of a phoenix rising from post-industrial decline has been transformed from neglected cotton mills into wine bars, Michelin-recommended restaurants and million-pound apartments. Now it could be hurtling towards another massive revamp.

Andy Burnham's team have set their sights on the new Manchester Digital Campus, currently being built opposite New Islington Marina, as the long-term home for his "Number 10 North." The former retail park opposite Ancoats' Aldi was confirmed as a government building site in March, with work beginning in June. It will eventually house nearly 9,000 civil servants from different departments.

But not everyone in Ancoats and New Islington is enthused.

What do the sceptics say?

"Gross," said Rue Aza-Vieria, 27, an IT worker who grew up in east Manchester. "It's just going to ruin the vista for Ancoats marina. It's not what we want. This is a place where people can enjoy themselves and relax. There's apartments, cafes, bars. People live across the water. We don't want it."

She added: "It will one thousand percent change the character of the area."

Denzel, a 24-year-old artist originally from Rome, said: "It just don't feel right. We're all for progress, but it needs to serve the locals who live here. This place already feels a bit dystopian, because you have these million-pound houses on one side, council housing on the other. Adding Manchester's political centre to the equation will make it even more detached from the people of Manchester."

He is worried it will drive rents up further and attract more southerners, pushing locals out. "A few of my friends have already been bought out of their homes round here," he said.

What about those who support it?

Krislynn Antal, a 21-year-old biomed graduate, backs the idea. "It's pretty cool, and it will put more focus on the North and bring jobs here," she said. "Ancoats has recently become more of a hub so I can see why they've chosen here. But I think a lot of people from Manchester would probably rather it wasn't in Ancoats."

Steve Porter, 70, a retired property developer whose penthouse overlooks the marina and will face directly towards the new building, is the only unambiguously positive voice. "Manchester is the fastest growing city. It's time we had more political weight," he said. "The north-south divide has been there for decades. I was aware of it as a young boy, and it's still true today."

Who is caught in the middle?

Ralph Kennedy, 50, works at an arts company on Blossom Street. "You're going to see all these big companies and lobbying firms move in around here. At the end of the day, that's good for the city. But that'll be the end of this place for us. No way we can afford the rent increase. We just moved here from Hulme six months ago. I suppose we'll be moving back."

He added: "We're not angry, not super happy either."