More than 5,000 civil servants could be based in the abandoned Mayfield railway site by 2014, not far from Piccadilly.
Civil servants from across Greater Manchester would be joined by staff relocating out of London and the South East as part of the Operational Efficiency programme.
Sir Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service, gave his backing to the proposal at Civil Service Live North West in Manchester on 7 December.
'A lot of people think the Civil Service is all about Sir Humphreys tucked away in Whitehall, but 73% of civil servants actually work outside London.
'There are around 60,000 civil servants in the North West, who work on the frontline, delivering public services that have a vital role to play in helping the region through the downturn,' he said.
'A centre such as this would help to make the Civil Service more efficient and streamlined,' he added.
Government Office for the North West, the Highways Agency and the Training and Development Agency are already due to move into Piccadilly Gate, close to Mayfield, in 2010.
The new proposal will develop this into a specially-built campus and will include a large public park.
The feasibility study looking at the viability of the campus, is due to report in February.
