CONTACT US
Share: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn I recommend visiting cushmanwakefield.com to read:%0A%0A {0} %0A%0A {1}
GWS-EMEA-Inclusive Cities EMEA Campaign_Hero.png GWS-EMEA_Inclusive Cities EMEA Campaign_hero mobile.png

ELEVATING MANCHESTER’S URBAN INCLUSIVITY

Here at Cushman & Wakefield, we have been evaluating the inclusiveness of 44 cities across EMEA including Manchester through analysis of 110 detailed metrics. These range across economic, social, spatial and environmental dimensions.

The aim is to not only understand our cities better but to go some way towards quantifying social value, and create a blueprint for inclusive development in our buildings and places. 

 

So, what does Manchester do well?

Manchester is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe – its population is due to reach 100,000 by 2026. However, there is still significant potential for growth - the city centre only accounts for 13% of total employment in the city - compared to 34% in London.

Investing in Success identifies an impressive pipeline of future opportunities which focus on creating inclusive places to support growth over the next 20 years including Mayfield, Innovation District Manchester, Victoria North and Wythenshawe.

Over 25 years ago when setting its trajectory for growth, the importance of graduate retention was central to the City’s Strategy. Over half (51%) of students from Manchester’s universities choose to remain in the city after graduation and an even greater proportion (57%) of students from Manchester who left for university return after graduating in other cities.

Manchester has been particularly successful in attracting international students. Many of those who move to Manchester identify as Mancunian, and the term is widely used by those who feel at home in the City, rather than being reserved as a term only for those born in the City.

Another important pillar of Manchester’s strategy in the 1990s was to create aspirational homes that would attract professionals to the city. Strong partnership working between Manchester City Council and private sector developers (predominantly local developers initially) led to the renaissance of the City Centre as a place to live. 22,350 new homes were developed between 2011 and 2021.

While accommodation is still relatively affordable, compared to many other parts of the Country, strong demand continues to put pressure on the housing market. Rents are increasing at some of the highest rates in the UK (running at c.17.5%) and in response Manchester’s Housing Strategy commits to build 36,000 new homes by 2032 of which 10,000 will be affordable – some of which will be delivered by the City’s housing company – This City. Initial loans to support city centre housing are now being reinvested in surrounding neighborhoods amplifying the impact of investment and driving inclusivity.

What can Manchester do better?

Along with its partner authorities in Greater Manchester, Manchester has created a subregional tram system that is the envy of many other areas. However, 70% of commutes are made by car which results in congestion in the City Centre resulting in poor air quality. The Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 sets an objective that by 2040 90% of morning peak trips in the city centre will be made by foot, cycle or public transport resulting in a cleaner, greener, less congested and safer city.

This will be achieved by a series of improvements including pedestrianisation of areas of the city such as Albert Square, dedicated bus and cycle routes on Deansgate, electric buses and affordable integrated ticketing delivered as part of The Bee Network - Greater Manchester’s vision for an integrated ‘London-style’ transport system.

Manchester’s substantial commercial and residential growth has also placed strain on its energy infrastructure. Maintaining Manchester’s growth trajectory and the transition to becoming a net zero carbon city (by 2038, 12 years ahead of UK target) will increase demand further – innovative solutions through partnership working will be critical to ensure that infrastructure does not hold back ambition.

Perceptions of Manchester have been transformed from a declining industrial city in the 1980s to a dynamic and diverse metropolis today. Further action is required to ensure that Manchester can retain its position as the most attractive UK destination for foreign direct investment outside of London. This includes creating a more diverse and inclusive labour market to drive innovation, resilience and adaptability to respond to new opportunities driven by technological and social change.

Inclusive and sustainable growth will only be achieved if local residents are upskilled to be able to benefit from new opportunities. Ensuring the next generation of talent is equipped to succeed is supported by Manchester’s UNICEF Child Friendly City status which aims to develop the next generation of talent, with a focus on 16 and 17-year-olds and connecting businesses to schools.

Manchester is highly successful in attracting large multinational companies to relocate or expand, and 80 of the FTSE 100 companies and 50 international banks have office space in the city. The City has seen 30% growth in businesses since 2015. However, inclusive success will only be achieved when every resident shares in the prosperity of the growing economy. The Strategy to ensure existing residents also benefit from growth includes delivery of the Living Wage Action Plan, supporting the Greater Manchester Local Skills Improvement Plan to help match skills and training provision in Manchester to the needs of employers and the wider labour market, reducing health inequalities through delivery of the Making Manchester Fairer Action Plan and delivering Manchester’s Work and Skills Strategy, Anti-Poverty Strategy, and embedding social value across anchor institutions.

 

Insights

Solar Panels
Research • Sustainability / ESG

Sustainability How-to Guides

A Practical Sustainability Series
Jessica Francisco • 13/09/2024
Rethinking the office sector
Research • Workplace

ReThinking the office sector in Asia Pacific

Our report takes a deeper dive into the underlying dynamics and drivers across The APAC region’s major markets and provides a roadmap for asset optimisation.
Dominic Brown • 21/06/2023
Future of Cities
Insights • Economy

Future of Cities

Structural forces are creating significant change to how we work, shop, live and move around our cities. Now is the time to consider their future. This is our vision for UK cities in 2040. 
Richard Pickering • 21/09/2022

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC?

Get in touch and we can assist with any additional information you need.
With your permission we and our partners would like to use cookies in order to access and record information and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device to ensure our website performs as expected, to develop and improve our products, and for advertising and insight purposes.

Alternatively click on More Options and select your preferences before providing or refusing consent. Some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing.

You can change your preferences at any time by returning to this site or clicking on Cookies.
MORE OPTIONS
Agree and Close
These cookies ensure that our website performs as expected,for example website traffic load is balanced across our servers to prevent our website from crashing during particularly high usage.
These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language or the region you are in) and provide enhanced features. These cookies do not gather any information about you that could be used for advertising or remember where you have been on the internet.
These cookies allow us to work with our marketing partners to understand which ads or links you have clicked on before arriving on our website or to help us make our advertising more relevant to you.
Agree All
Reject All
SAVE SETTINGS