Place North West, the council declined to comment on the potential occupier and said talks were ongoing. The office, part of Muse Development’s Talbot Gateway masterplan, will not be built speculatively and construction would only start if an agreement had already been signed with an occupier, according to the council. Muse Developments submitted outline plans for the office building last December and is in the process of appointing a lead contractor for the project. Under proposals designed by Make Architects, a 2.4-acre site bounded by Deansgate, King Street, Cookson Street, Charles Street and East Topping Street, would be redeveloped into a seven-storey office block.