Besides its name, Downing Street in Ardwick has very little in common with its London counterpart.

Instead of tall iron gates, there are roadwork fences. Instead of Georgian arches, there are graffiti-covered pillars holding up the fly-over.

And instead of limousines and Mercedes pulling up outside the country's most powerful address, Uber drivers honk at Bee Network buses outside sprawling industrial estates.

Prime Minister in waiting Andy Burnham today (June 29) revealed a radical plan to shift decision-making power away from Whitehall. It's the biggest pledge to transfer authority to England's regions in modern times.

The former Greater Manchester mayor, and recently crowned Makerfield MP, said a 'Number 10 in the North' will be 'the nerve centre for a rewired Britain'.

Its new home will ultimately be the Manchester Digital Campus, currently under construction on the site of a former retail park in Ancoats. But until its completion – not due before 2028 – Mr Burnham's team are reportedly on the hunt for an interim office in the city.

Where better to ask what Manchester makes of the idea than on its very own Downing Street?

"I'm not sure Ardwick will make the list," said Gareth Leetch, 30, on his lunchbreak at Ardwick Green. "But I do think [the move to Manchester] is a good idea."

There seems to be a lot of support for the move , with people who live and work in the area saying it would help pop the Westminster bubble. But there are caveats.

"I think it's good because the North does get forgotten about," said David Parry, 41, also enjoying his lunch in a spot of sun in Ardwick Green.

"But I do think it's going to p*** off the southerners. I used to live in London and I know what it's like down there. There's a lot of old school southerners who'll kick off. It'll cause a lot of unwanted drama."

Mr Parry, originally from Warrington, works as a designer in Ardwick and has lived in Stockport for two years.

He believes relocating government offices will benefit the city, bringing more investment and boost its political presence – as well as shining a spotlight on its transport system, which he says 'still doesn't compare' to London's infrastructure.

"Burnham was a hell of a good mayor, and he seems like a good bloke," he added. "I just hope he doesn't go too 'King of the North'. He needs to appeal to southerners too, otherwise I think there'll be a massive backlash."

Sebastian Jamison, 20, isn't at all convinced the relocation is the right thing for the city. The Salford-born barista, who now lives in Moss Side, seemed utterly bewildered by the idea.

"It's a funny idea," he said with a note of irony. "Cancel HS2 and then put [a Downing Street office] in the city? It doesn't really make sense.

"It would probably boost the area, but I genuinely don't think any locals who live in the town centre really appreciate it. Even now when Andy Burnham's leaving somewhere, or the Prime Minister is, they block off the roads and bring in loads of security.

"It causes a scene wherever they are. If you're doing that regularly in Manchester you're basically taking over the whole of the city, there just isn't the space for it."

Mr Jamison, who works at the Projekts Skate Park off Downing St, admitted he also has a personal gripe – he blames Burnham for introducing a bylaw against skateboarding in the city centre.

"They even put him on a skateboard to test his skills – and he fell right off," he said, adding tongue-in-cheek: "That's tarnished his reputation among skaters forever."

While Mr Jamison is convinced 'northerners don't want it here' others in the area welcome what they see as a push for greater equality in representation for the north of England.

Ella Wigfall, 25, a designer who works in Ardwick, said: "The government in the past has prioritised the south and the north has generally been forgotten about. I think having the office here will bring more funding and opportunities to the north and the north west.

"There's way more opportunities [down south] especially in the creative industries, which I work in. The paid jobs are predominantly in London so to have more funding in the northwest would be really good."

Gareth Leetch, 30, a housing coordinator, agreed. "Most of the decisions about how to spend tax are made in Westminster," he said. "That may have worked at one stage. But having come from Cornwall and lived in Manchester, I can see how both places have fallen by the wayside because of that. If you have a local angle, you have a better understanding of what the money should be spent on."

For Mr Leetch, the priority is backtracking on the 20pc VAT, which he says is 'killing the hospitality industry' he used to work in.

Halimo Diriye, a 45-year-old mum and cleaner, said it's about bringing down the cost of living; bringing down crime; and encouraging those on benefits to get back into work.

"I've lived here for 21 years," she said. "My children grew up here. I love Manchester because of the opportunities.

Most of her kids went to university and are now lawyers, care workers, and construction managers, while she's traded through blue-collar jobs throughout their childhoods. Mrs Diriye didn't know about Burnham's No 10 North plan, and responded with excitement: "I'm so happy. I hope it will make a big difference."

But she added that the issues affecting her the most were national ones – such as high taxes.

Meanwhile accounts manager Nathan Cuttica, 25, believes Manchester has already been doing a good job of redirecting national political attention to the north.

"It's a great symbolic gesture," said the Londoner, who moved to Manchester two years ago, "But I'd be interested to see if it actually results in any change. A lot of people in the north and Scotland feel the focus is on London and Westminster. But it's one thing to say you'll move it and another to make policies that will actually benefit the north.

"I do think the south is guilty of taking what we have for granted. And I'm optimistic Andy Burnham will use it as an opportunity to connect the north and the south, and Manchester with neighbouring cities, as opposed to creating a new 'Manchester bubble'."

Mr Cuttica also isn't convinced Ardwick's Downing Street would be the best location for the new office, despite the fitting name.

Though in many ways it encapsulates the political spirit of the city: a re-industrialised melting pot of people of different backgrounds, ages, and political views, with plenty of room for upwards growth – and better public transport links.

Mr Burnham's office says it will announce the interim location in 'due course'.

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