The past two years have brought some of the greatest upheavals in the history of Manchester, the UK and the world. There were few who could have predicted the scale of the Covid-19 pandemic and just how deeply it would affect all levels of society.
However, Manchester is a resilient city and thanks to the city’s pre-pandemic economic success we are in a positive position to look ahead to recovery and a very exciting future.
In spite of everything, we are still growing, we are still looking to drive future investment and, above all, Manchester remains a place of investor confidence – not just nationally, but internationally.
A sign of this was a planning committee held at the height of the pandemic which approved more than £1bn of developments, sending a clear message that despite the uncertainty faced by cities across the UK, Manchester remained open for business.
However, for Manchester to recover and go on to thrive it is essential that there is a level playing field – not only for the city itself – but for the rest of the north as we come out of the pandemic.
Ambitious recovery
Levelling up must be more than rhetoric. We need action, we need investment, and we need a willingness to address the problems that have held back communities for generations.
That was the basis of our ambitious recovery plan, which seeks £450m of additional investment to boost Manchester with shovel-ready proposals that ensure the city can bounce back quickly and decisively.
This includes investment to transform our neighbourhoods over the next three years with major housing initiatives planned to implement low-carbon retrofitting (part of the city’s zero-carbon ambitions) and new affordable homes. The city is now on track to far surpass the target of building at least 6,400 affordable homes between 2015 and 2025, with 4,260 new homes built in 2020/21 alone meeting demand across all tenures.
Inclusivity is key
The discussion around levelling up is about how we can create not just a stronger regional economy but a more inclusive one.
The pandemic revealed the inequalities in our society and the major divides between the north and south when it comes to key indicators such as health and education.
Major investment has already been made into the delivery of the first phase of the North Manchester Health Campus, a project that will improve health outcomes for some of the most disadvantaged communities. But more will be needed if all our residents are to benefit.
Manchester is one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe, having seen a population increase of 150,000 in the past decade, and significant further growth expected. Our job is to make sure all residents can share in the city’s prosperity.
Our £450m recovery plan seeks £72m over two years to help residents gain qualifications, stay in education and support access to new employment, particularly in the city’s growth sectors of digital and technology.
It’s important to me that development in our city reflects our ambitions and priorities – zero carbon, sustainability and creating opportunities for our residents to access employment and increase skills – while being bold and forward-thinking.
Global awakening
Alongside the pandemic we have seen a global awakening to the threats posed by climate change. This does not mean we want to stifle growth, rather development should be sustainable and respond to the immense challenges we face.
The council is committed to working with partners that share our aims and values to create a more sustainable city, working towards our goal of becoming a zero-carbon city by 2038 – 12 years earlier than the national target.
This ethos can already be seen in some of the city’s flagship developments. Ground has been broken in Mayfield, Victoria North and the North Manchester Campus, where low-carbon technologies and high-quality green spaces are central to their design.
Design by a broader group
Looking at how cities are developed is also important. For generations the places we live and work have been designed by the same kind of people. So if we are going to create better and more inclusive neighbourhoods they need to be designed by a broader group of people with the needs of everyone in mind.
Over the past year we have seen the issue of women’s safety very much in the limelight. If we are looking to make positive change then we need to think about how inclusive cities can be designed from the outset, not as an afterthought.
As well as providing places for people to live and work, we also want to create spaces that harness Manchester’s rich cultural heritage. During the pandemic we saw the impact in the culture, hospitality and leisure sectors. These industries are so important to Manchester and ones we wholeheartedly support.
Before I was elected as leader of the council we were well under way in the construction of The Factory, a state-of-the-art cultural venue that is not only creating jobs and opportunities during its construction, but one that will be an engine for creativity once complete and an inspiration for generations of creative talent.
We have also seen plans for the development of the Co-op Live Arena, another chapter in the two-decade story of the regeneration of east Manchester.
Underpinning everything we do in Manchester is social value. When we put a contract out for tender, when a development is taken to planning committee or when a policy is being crafted, we must ask ourselves how will this benefit our residents?
Social value is the way in which we share prosperity among every resident in Manchester. Whether that is providing training and apprenticeship opportunities to younger people, or making sure that developments give back to the communities in which they reside, I want to guarantee that the future of Manchester is built on equal opportunity.
I am immensely proud to be leading Manchester City Council and relish the opportunities we have to shape the future of this great city. We have lofty ambitions but we also have the skill, the drive and commitment to deliver our vision for a thriving city.
Bev Craig is leader of Manchester City Council
