Office refurbishment in Manchester

Standard Cat B: £980 to £1,610 per m²
Rate basis: North West (about 25% below central London)

Manchester's office market mixes glass towers around Spinningfields and Piccadilly with converted cotton warehouses and mills in the Northern Quarter, Ancoats and around the canals. The two need very different refurbishments, and the older stock brings listed building and conservation rules into play.

Brief a contractor

Refurbishing an office in Manchester

What changes the scope, the price or the programme in this city.

Warehouse and mill conversions: Exposed brick, cast iron columns and timber floors are part of the appeal, but they limit where ducts and cables can run, can affect fire separation, and need careful acoustic design.
Listed buildings and conservation areas: Many of the city's former warehouses are listed, and large parts of the centre are conservation areas. Manchester City Council is the planning authority; internal changes to a listed building may need listed building consent.
Grade A towers: Newer towers usually come with Cat A floors and a landlord fit-out guide, similar to London, with approved contractors for base-building services.
Regional rates: A national property consultancy's 2025 guide puts the North West about 25% below central London. A 2026 international guide gives Manchester fit-out at £128 to £310 per ft², against £148 to £359 in London.

Manchester guide rates

Scope	Includes	Guide cost
Light refresh	Decoration, carpet tiles, LED lighting swaps, no change to layout or plant	£120 to £240 per m²
Cat A fit-out	Ceilings, raised floor, lighting, heating and cooling to open plan, toilets and core finishes	£490 to £770 per m²
Cat B fit-out, standard	Partitions, meeting rooms, tea points, finishes and services moved to suit the layout	£980 to £1,610 per m²
Cat B fit-out, premium	Higher-end joinery, glazing, acoustic treatment, hospitality areas	£1,760 to £3,080 per m²

Per m² of net internal area, before VAT and fees, central London published rates adjusted by a published regional factor, November 2026. A guide, not a quote. Use the cost plan.

What Manchester costs

Applying the North West adjustment to central London rates gives about £120 to £240 per m² for a light refresh, £490 to £770 per m² for Cat A and £980 to £1,610 per m² for a standard Cat B, before VAT and fees. One international property consultancy's 2026 guide puts Manchester fit-out at £128 to £310 per ft², about £1,380 to £3,340 per m², across low to high specification.

Period buildings need surveys first

In converted warehouses, a measured survey, a structural check of floor loadings and a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey are worth commissioning before design. They decide where services can go and whether a raised floor, a suspended ceiling or exposed services make sense.

Energy rules and older stock

Older buildings often have weak EPC ratings. If you are a landlord, the minimum energy efficiency standard affects whether you can grant a new lease, and a refurbishment is the time to improve lighting, controls and heating. Listed status can affect which measures are acceptable.

Where our information comes from

Rates from published UK fit-out cost guides (Q1 2026 and 2026) and a national property consultancy's regional adjustments (spring 2025); firms not named.

Office refurbishment in Manchester: questions

How much does an office refurbishment cost in Manchester?

Roughly 25% below central London: about £490 to £770 per m² for Cat A and £980 to £1,610 per m² for a standard Cat B, before VAT. One 2026 consultancy guide puts Manchester fit-out at £128 to £310 per ft².

Do we need consent to refurbish a listed office in Manchester?

Often yes, even for internal work that affects the building's character, such as new partitions against original features or new service routes. Speak to Manchester City Council before design is fixed.

Is it cheaper to refurbish an old warehouse or a modern office?

A modern floor with Cat A in place is usually cheaper to fit out. Older buildings can need more work on services routes, fire separation and acoustics, but often have lower rents and more character.

How long does a Manchester office fit-out take?

Typically 8 to 14 weeks on site for a Cat B of around 1,000 m², after design and consents. Listed building consent can add eight weeks or more.

Keep reading

Cat B fit-out
The occupier's fit-out in detail.
Cat A fit-out
For landlords preparing floors.
Dilapidations works
Leaving an office at lease end.
CDM 2015 client duties
What the client must do.

Brief a contractor in Manchester

Three short steps: where the building is, what the scope is, and who to speak to. Rough answers are fine; a contractor firms them up on a site visit.

Your brief stays with us until you approve the independent commercial refurbishment contractor we name for your building.

Where is the building?

Postcode of the building