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Burnham Picks Manchester Site for Number 10 North Project

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 10:23 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham selected Manchester’s former Central Retail Park for the Number 10 North project.
Manchester City Council bought the site in 2017 for £42.35 million, its most expensive land purchase.
Site subject to a 2015-2025 ‘sweetheart’ deal giving Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) refusal right and barring developers for a decade.
Barrister Christopher Knight KC alleges the purchase was unlawful because no valuation report or offers were disclosed.

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Story summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham selected Manchester’s former Central Retail Park for the Number 10 North project.
Manchester City Council bought the site in 2017 for £42.35 million, its most expensive land purchase.
Site subject to a 2015-2025 ‘sweetheart’ deal giving Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) refusal right and barring developers for a decade.
Barrister Christopher Knight KC alleges the purchase was unlawful because no valuation report or offers were disclosed.