In 2015 the Our Manchester Strategy was developed – a 10-year plan based on how Mancunians wanted to see our city grow.
Its goal was to help shape Manchester, what its residents wanted to see, and how the city could be made a better place to live, work and prosper.
In the decade that has passed since, Manchester has transformed to bring about real and lasting change that has improved the lives of our residents.
Since 2015:
- There are now 72,000 more jobs in the city between 2015 and 2022
- 90% of primary schools and 80% of secondary schools are classed as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ – a very significant improvement in the last decade and now better than the national average
- 45% of residents now have a degree, up from 27% 20 years ago, and only 10% of our residents have no qualifications, down from 24% 20 years ago
- 25,000 new homes have been built in the city since 2015 and there are more than 12,000 homes under construction
- 36,000 new homes are planned up to 2032, 10,000 of which are social, council and genuinely affordable, and 3,000 of which are in the city centre
Looking forward to the next 10 years the Council is very much aware of the specific challenges which face Manchester. No one could have foreseen the Covid-19 pandemic, nor the following energy bills surge and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis which many people still struggle with daily.
Ahead of the development of a new Our Manchester Strategy a period of engagement has launched, where people can take part in a survey, informing us on how their priorities have changed, what additional support is needed, and what can be done to ensure everyone can thrive in Manchester.
The Council and our partners will also be out in neighbourhoods across the city holding face-to-face conversations with residents, workers and businesses to really listen to people’s views and ideas for the future.
Click here to learn more about you can take part in the Our Manchester 2035 journey.
This engagement phase will run from February through to June, ahead of a draft strategy being prepared during the Summer. The full strategy is expected to be launched in December 2024.
Despite the many challenges we now face, there is still a huge amount that we as a city can feel proud of and opportunities to take advantage of.
On a global stage Manchester has truly cemented its place as one of the world’s great cities, from being a hub for creativity and the arts, to sports and science. Manchester has shown there is a warm welcome to all who come here.
Manchester is a Time Out top ten must-visit city for 2024 and was also named as the ACES European Capital of Cycling for 2024, a huge boost to its aspirations to be one of the best places to cycle in the country. Our cultural and music offer has been boosted even further by the opening of Aviva Studios (home of Factory International), the Co-op Live in east Manchester and the news that Manchester will be the new HQ of the English National Opera later this year.
This growing international standing is proving to be a boost to our economy too, bucking the UK trend and outgrowing every other UK city. Our workforce – homegrown and newcomers alike – helps to attract investment from all over the world, allowing our city to invest more in services and projects to benefit everyone in line with our commitment to become zero carbon by 2038.
What this shows is that no matter how hard things have been, Manchester still has the ability to lead the way on a local and a global stage, creating opportunities to improve the lives of our residents.
We now ask ourselves what more we can do to find solutions to the challenges the city faces to help create a fairer and more equal Manchester in 2035. Feedback from people who live in Manchester is critical to understanding this, and why their role in the Our Manchester Strategy has been integral since its inception.
As a diverse city we also want to hear voices from all of Manchester’s communities. Diversity is what makes Manchester the strong, vibrant and welcoming place it is, but our collective challenge is ensuring that everyone is included in the next 10 years of the city’s journey.
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council said: “We’ve come a long way over the last decade since the creation of the Our Manchester Strategy. The next - Our Manchester 2035 – can take us further still. The city’s future will be shaped by what people tell us is important to them, how they live, work, study and most importantly, what they want for themselves, their families and their city for the future.
“I am so proud to lead this city, to represent the hundreds of thousands of people who call it home, and more than ever I want to ensure that every single one of us can benefit from the opportunities that can be found in Manchester.
“That’s why it’s so important that we hear from the people and communities which make up Manchester. The Our Manchester 2035 strategy is about empowering each one of us, making sure that our city’s future is shaped by you.”