The Our Manchester Strategy 2016–2025 sets out the future Manchester we want to see.
It details the goals that everyone in our city – our public, private, voluntary and community organisations and our residents – will work on together to put Manchester in the top flight of world cities by 2025.
Halfway through the original Strategy, we’re resetting priorities for the years to 2025, acknowledging – but looking beyond – current challenges, to make sure the city achieves its ambition.
The reset of our goals is based on over 3800 consultation responses during summer 2020.
Download a PDF of Our Manchester Strategy- Forward to 2025.
Our Manchester today
Manchester is still a place defined by its diversity, vibrancy and creativity. As we work for a more equal and greener future, we will continue to build upon our history of finding new ways of working and getting things done.
We’ve seen many parts of the city go through physical changes, with new housing allowing more people to live here. As more businesses have invested here, further jobs opportunities have been created for people across all our neighbourhoods. Our residents are better connected with improved transport and can enjoy a varied culture and leisure scene. As we move towards a zero-carbon future, we’re recycling more, and our parks have been protected and developed for all.
Getting there
The State of the City report shows how we're doing, in line with the goals from the Our Manchester Strategy. Between 2015 and 2020, Manchester made some great progress. Our population rose twice as quickly as the average across other areas in the UK. Our educational standards rose from primary to further education. We saw increased job opportunities with our international outlook attracting more businesses, as well as students and visitors, up until the effects of COVID-19 hit in 2020.
See more about our progress in the first five years of the Strategy
More work to do
Whilst Manchester has made some great progress in many areas, some of the key challenges set out in the original Strategy remain; these will require continued focus in the years up to 2025.
See more on key challenges requiring continued focus.
New focus
Our communities want a renewed focus on young people, our economy, health, housing, our environment and infrastructure.
Our future Manchester
The original goal remains for Manchester to be in the top-flight of world cities by 2025 with a strong economy and highly skilled people. It will be well connected, limiting climate change and everyone will feel safe and live well in an attractive and welcoming city.
See details of our vision: Our Future Manchester
Forward to 2025 – Manchester’s priorities
For Manchester to achieve its vision, we will refocus our efforts on these priorities to 2025.
Through each priority runs Manchester’s commitment to build a more equal, inclusive and sustainable city for everyone who lives, works, volunteers, studies and plays here. Only by working together can we achieve our vision by making an impact on our priorities of making Manchester:
- A thriving and sustainable city
- A highly skilled city
- A progressive and equitable city
- A liveable and zero-carbon city
- A connected city
See details of Manchester's priorities.
Delivering and monitoring our progress
As a strategy for the city of Manchester, successfully reaching our ambition will require strong partnership working and collaboration. To achieve the priorities set out in Forward to 2025, Manchester must continue to work in an ‘Our Manchester’ way.
Success depends on our people and organisations coming together so their collective knowledge, skills, effort and passion is harnessed.
We must continue to put people first; listen, learn and respond; recognise the strengths of individuals and communities; and work together to build relationships and create conversations.
See the detailed plans for delivering and monitoring our progress.