Key Manchester figures head to MIPIM next week (w/c 9 March) as part of a Greater Manchester delegation to highlight the city’s role as an engine of growth for the region.
Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig and Chief Executive Tom Stannard will spearhead a Manchester contingent making the case for investment in the city as it continues to outperform national trends to drive sustainable development – creating jobs, investing in infrastructure, building homes and helping residents to succeed.
Manchester is home to some of the UK’s most ambitious programmes of regeneration. Around 30,000 new homes are on the verge of being unlocked through Victoria North, Holt Town and Strangeways alone – and with them, thousands of new jobs, millions of square feet of commercial space and myriad world-class green spaces.
While challenges remain in the construction sector, demand for high-quality workspaces continues to grow in Manchester – and with it a drive to deliver state-of-the-art offices in the city that meet the needs of the city and region’s emerging sectors.
Supported by Greater Manchester’s Good Growth Fund – a pioneering way of unlocking investment opportunities which Manchester was integral in shaping - key commercial sites are also being brought forward this year unlocking over 1million sqft of added commercial space up by 2029 in the city’s key growth areas in research, digital and fintech.
Key schemes in the city - Kendals Milne, Sister, Upper Brook Street, Mayfield and MIX Manchester - each present a unique opportunity and mix of tenures that create space for organisations to tap into Manchester’s ecosystems. From grassroots and emerging enterprises to global operations that have chosen the city as a great place to do business, Manchester has created a talent pool that fuels innovation, collaboration and trailblazing growth.
Manchester will also be launching a major new opportunity with a new Strategic Regeneration Framework taking place for the Water Street area, setting out a vision for a new residential-led neighbourhood – including a new public park along the River Medlock – in a ‘forgotten’ corner of the city centre.
Housing investment, linked to the city’s ambitious housing strategy, is continuing to accelerate to meet key targets up to 2032 – to deliver 36,000 new homes, of which at least 10,000 will be social rent, Council and genuinely affordable homes – along with 3,000 in the city centre.
Manchester’s vision of sustainable growth is underpinned by a fundamental value that everyone in the city deserves access to a safe, secure and affordable home – the cornerstone of our residents’ wellbeing and a platform from which to thrive.
2025 represented the strongest year for affordable home completions since the mid-1990s. And while the city sees enviable growth, supported by key investment, the city’s success is created by its population – and it's vital that communities across the city are able to share in the city region’s success.
Future growth in the region will need belief in central Government that a strong North is a driver for growth nationally.
The Government’s commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail is a major moment for Manchester and the city region - a total £45bn investment that is the biggest transformation in travel in the North in a generation that will fuel growth and turbo charge economies in Manchester and partners cities between Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield.
A new underground station would also create a once-in-a-century opportunity to unlock growth in the Piccadilly Manchester area – the immediate area around the station alone has the potential to support 40,000 jobs, 13,000 new homes and a million sq ft of commercial space.
While Manchester can point to globally significant programmes of regeneration in the city centre, the extensive investment taking place in communities across the city is just as important to the city’s trajectory.
The £500m investment in Wythenshawe Town Centre is a good example of this – or the £90m programme in Moston, or the £60m programme in Gorton.
This is how funding packages such as Pride in Place and the Good Growth Fund help our region's towns and cities create positive investment that meets the needs of our residents.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester has a unique story to tell about the incredible growth and investment we’re already experiencing – creating jobs, much-needed housing and other opportunities for our residents – and the exciting potential which still exists as that growth broadens.
“This is a place which makes things happen, which innovates and aims high.”
Tom Stannard, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, said: “By closing viability gaps, diversifying supply, and steering investment toward both established and emerging sectors, Manchester can continue to compete on a national and global stage while ensuring that inclusive growth supports our brilliant communities.
“We look forward to sharing that message with potential investors and decision-makers.”
Further details about the Manchester at MIPIM programme can be found here: Manchester @ MIPIM 2026 Events… | Manchester Invest Partnership