—Manchester Forward

—Manchester Forward

Published by Manchester city council

and Marketing Manchester

March 2009

—culture —liFe —intelligence —business —environMent —connectivity —direction

sir richard leese cbe, leader, Manchester city council

this publication is about Manchester – both the city and the wider

city region – and its ‘near and present’ future; it is intended to give

those who have an eye on the city or a stake in its continued success

a genuine and wide-ranging sense of our plans, our priorities and

our dynamic direction of travel.

in the pages that follow we make it clear that Manchester

is a great place to be. it’s a city of invention, of innovation and of

talented people; there is an enthusiasm and drive that is infectious

and explains, for example, why so many of our overseas students

choose to stay in the city when they graduate.

there is always something happening here – the Manchester

international Festival, the reinvention and redevelopment of oxford

road as the corridor and even our standing as a science city. ours

is a city that never stands still, that is always looking for that next

adventure. and we embark on these new journeys not least through

a deeply felt confidence that whenever we put our collective heads

and hearts together, we win.

Much of our vision is based around innovation, from the

unparalleled wealth of knowledge in our higher education institutions

and research and development community to individual businesses

in creative industries, life sciences or the professional services; we

innovate too in culture, sustainability and critically in the delivery

of public services.

it’s a vision for the many, not the few. boosting investment

and jobs in the city will bring benefits to the whole community. this

inclusiveness is apparent in many of our initiatives. we want everyone

to be a part of the Manchester story. this wider regard extends to

our impact on the planet, and our truly held conviction that we want

to be the fastest decarbonising city in the world.

of course, there are challenges to address. every city has

its share of problems but Manchester is committed to all its residents.

real investment is happening across the city region. investment in

our schools, our workforce, homes, businesses and culture.

with our network of outstanding partners, both public and

private, Manchester has become a city of national and international

importance. its future is built on firm foundations. a future where

people achieve, business prospers and enterprise thrives.

Manchester believes in itself. you can believe in Manchester.

04/05—Foreword

06/07—Foreword

sir howard bernstein, chieF eXecutive, Manchester city council

Manchester Forward is as much a work in progress as the city itself.

in this publication we have attempted to capture the ambitions of the

many people, agencies and businesses that are working tirelessly to

continue Manchester’s renaissance but we are certain of one thing:

we have only presented on these pages the very slightest glimpse of

all that is being created and dreamed of across our city. consider this

a despatch from britain’s other city, not a comprehensive record of

the current state of play.

our focus is on the near future. look to a five year horizon

and many of the schemes and strategies mentioned in this publication

will have come to fruition and will have helped us to continue our

improvement across the key areas that matter: jobs, housing, health,

education, carbon emissions, innovation, culture. we have a vision

reaching out across a ten or twenty year time span which includes

ambitious plans for some of our most important business sectors,

for transport and also for the communities where we have to work

harder to bring prosperity and opportunity.

ours is a dynamic city. the changes of recent history have

rendered some parts virtually unrecognisable. it is this ability to

reinvent, the ability to change, that makes Manchester the successful

city we see today. that we have the energy and the optimism to

achieve our goals cannot be denied, by anyone.

Manchester is an ambitious city. we want to attract the very

best in business and individual talent. of course, we have our fair

share of home-grown successes that make us rightly proud. some

of the key developments you see around the city are due, in no small

part, to the enterprise and tenacity of the people who live and work

here. the complete rebirth of east Manchester from a forgotten

industrial area to a vibrant local neighbourhood, and the creation

of sportcity where so many of our olympic athletes train side by side

with local people are just two of the jewels in our crown. sportcity

in particular is set for dramatic changes in the very near future which

will have to be covered in a subsequent despatch from the original

Modern city.

read on and discover what we’ve been working on and where

we want to get to.

the city of ideas and the city of culture, of enjoyment and of life lived to the full; these are one and the same. Manchester’s global reputation rests on the events, moments and encounters that make the Manchester experience utterly unique; it must be an experience that is constantly improving its quality, challenging its audiences and forging a city-wide culture of innovation. open minds and you open opportunities too. the spaces and places where culture happens will continue to be transformed but there will also be programming – such as the successful Manchester international Festival – which secures our cultural profile right across the world. the city will continue to be a place where arts, commerce and society are fused together as a singular force.

oPenMindsoPen city

08/09—culture

culture critical

Manchester has a rich and diverse cultural offer. the city has

worked hard to achieve its full potential with world-class visitor

attractions and unique events. in some areas, the cultural ‘product’

has yet to be fully realised in terms of ambition, skill and scale but

Manchester embraces these challenges – the interplay of innovation,

radical thought and independence that once shaped the industrial

revolution continues to inform the cultural and creative sector

today. that improvements can be made is, of course, good news.

this is not a sector that seeks to rest on its laurels.

and there is a good deal to build upon. thanks in no small

part to the benefaction of its victorian forefathers, Manchester is

particularly rich in cultural assets. the internationally renowned

textile and wallpaper collections at the whitworth art gallery, for

example, or the John rylands library, whose bibliographic stores

span five millennia, are just two of the cultural highlights brought

into being during the industrial revolution. but culture is not just

of historic importance here: culture has played an integral part in

the city region’s contemporary renaissance, from the creation of

dance music to innovative digital industries.

at the policy level, Manchester’s current cultural strategy

integrates marketing and programming, business support, education

and tourism; a new cultural strategy is in development and will

take effect in 2009.

commissioned by Manchester city council, it is being

driven by the intelligence agency. it focuses on assessing the

current market, measuring cultural output against international

standards and setting a new framework that will enable cultural

organisations across the city to become more ambitious, distinctive

and, perhaps, ‘Mancunian’.

On the wOrld stage

The cultural profile of Manchester is

significantly enhanced by the presence of

world-renowned institutions such as the

Hallé Orchestra, led by Music Director

Sir Mark Elder CBE, and Chetham’s School

of Music. Now Manchester has ambitions

to build on this reputation still further, by

seeking to develop a major new training

and production centre for creative skills.

Plans are being drawn up to develop

a high quality performance space that will

attract international opera and ballet, host

performances as part of the Manchester

International Festival and commissions

with national and international partners.

A project of this scale and ambition

would bring a further boost to Manchester’s

international profile and would increase

cultural tourism, skills development and

the ability to unlock new audiences.

ChethaM’s

The world-famous Chetham’s School of

Music is being redeveloped with the help

of a multi-million pound investment.

A new state-of-the-art school and

performance venue will allow the School

to develop its expertise and become a

world-class visitor attraction.

Through this work, its 15th Century

library will be opened up as a new visitor

attraction. The oldest public library in the

UK, Chetham’s was the site of meetings

between Marx and Engels and the table

where parts of the Communist manifesto

were written is still in situ. Along with

Manchester Cathedral these historic

buildings, go towards the creation of a

new Medieval Quarter for the city.

It is much more than a project to

update a school though. Chetham’s is

a unique, world-class institution and an

outstanding historic building. Preserving

and enhancing it will connect it to the

city centre and ensure the building and

everything that goes on inside are an

integral part of the picture of Manchester.

THE LOWRY SALFORD800,000

MOSI MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY 704,975

MANCHESTER ART GALLERY 393,650

BOLTON MUSEUM, AQUARIUM AND ARCHIVE 267,483

MANCHESTER UNITED FC MUSEUM 263,325

Below Greater Manchester’s top five visitor attractions, according to Visit Manchester’s 2007 Tourism Economic Indicators.

10/11—culture

the city oF sPort

Manchester has long been recognised as one of the world’s leading

sports destinations. From the Xii commonwealth games in 2002

to Manchester’s designation as sport city of the year 2008, the

city region regularly outperforms other sports cities such as

Melbourne and berlin. in 2008 alone, greater Manchester hosted

six international competitions and is one of the few areas outside

london scheduled to host 2012 olympic events. so renowned

are the city’s facilities that the australian swimming team has

decided to make Manchester their home in the run up to the

2012 olympics and beyond.

in east Manchester, sportcity is home to the single largest

concentration of sporting venues in europe. it is here that some of

britain’s most impressive sporting facilities can be found, including

the city of Manchester stadium, home to Manchester city Football

club, the national squash centre and the national cycling centre.

thirty-eight of the uK’s medal-winning athletes at the beijing

olympics and Paralympics completed their training at sportcity.

the area is not resting on its laurels. Further investment

is being made in new sports infrastructure, including a national

indoor bMX centre, to ensure the northwest continues to provide

a platform for uK sporting excellence as well as creating further

participation opportunities for the local community. in addition,

Manchester city council is seeking a partner to operate a leisure

and tourism destination of international significance on the site.

Manchester city Football club is also committed to creating

a world-leading football club with its home at sportcity.

Manchester’s sporting facilities and prowess generates

significant tourism, from the athletes who come to the city region

to take advantage of its superior sporting facilities, to the thousands

of football fans who regularly travel to old trafford, home of

Manchester united Fc and sportcity, home of Manchester city Fc.

it is estimated that international football tourism alone generated

over £4 million for the city region in 2008.

MajOr events strategy

The ‘Decade of Sport’ sees the United

Kingdom planning to host several high

profile events including: Olympics 2012,

Commonwealth Games 2014, while also

bidding for the Rugby World Cup 2015 and

FIFA World Cup 2018. The opportunities

emerging from this are being clasped with

both hands by Manchester as it works

alongside national and regional agencies,

such as Sport England, UK Sport and the

Northwest Regional Development Agency,

to develop a dedicated long-term major

events strategy.

This strategy is underpinned by

partnerships with International Federations

and National Governing Bodies (British

Cycling, International Federation of Netball

Associations, British Swimming, England

Squash, Sport Taekwondo) who are already

investing in the city through the location

of their headquarters, regional offices and

performance centres.

The economic impact of hosting major

sporting events is clear. Manchester World

Sport 08 – eight international sports events

hosted and supported by the city – saw

Manchester invest more than £2.5 million in

securing and delivering world-class sporting

events in 2008. This in turn generated over

£11 million in event delivery expenditure

and is expected to show an economic

return in excess of £20 million.

In addition to economic impact, the

city’s national and international profile has

been greatly enhanced – Manchester was

recognised as the world’s leading Sport City

at the Sport Business Event Management

Awards, beating off competition from

Melbourne, New York, Madrid and Doha.

Manchester’s strategy for major

events will see sustained investment of

around £1.6 million plus funding from

national and regional stakeholders. The

event offer is further strengthened through

partnerships with organisations such as

Marketing Manchester, professional clubs,

the universities, and commercial facilities;

alignment with sports development and

community sport strategies; ongoing facility

development programmes; and the support

of health and education initiatives.

8 GOLD

4 SILVER

2 BRONZE

left The Great Britain cycling team won 14 medals at the Beijing Olympics; all medal winners trained in Manchester.

2007 ARTISTS 2009 ARTISTS

OVER THE PAST DECADE ALMOST £400 MILLION OF PUBLIC MONEY HAS BEEN INVESTED IN GREATER MANCHESTER’S CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE

12/13—culture

MUseUMs COnsOrtIUM

If there is one sector that is working to

embody the notion of the Original Modern

vision, it’s the cultural sector. Major events

such as Manchester International Festival

embody the innovative, globally ambitious

qualities that inform the city. Elsewhere,

organisations are working together in new

ways to deliver exceptional exhibitions

and events.

Manchester Museums Consortium

is a group of some of the city region’s

leading arts venues. Its nine members are

Manchester Art Gallery, the Whitworth Art

Gallery, Urbis, Imperial War Museum North,

The Lowry, Cornerhouse, The Manchester

Museum, the Museum of Science and

Industry (MOSI) and the People’s History

Museum. With financial support from the

Northwest Regional Development Agency,

three of these organisations have been

able to plan and stage highly ambitious

exhibitions. The Consortium also works

across venues to improve planning and

marketing; together with reinvigorated

programmes, the Consortium’s activity is

set to focus international attention on the

city region.

Manchester international Festival

the biennial Manchester international Festival is the world’s

only festival dedicated to premiering newly-commissioned work.

twenty-five premieres studded the inaugural event in 2007, including

Monkey: Journey to the West, an opera inspired by the ancient

chinese tale that subsequently toured the globe. the Festival presents

new work from across the spectrum of performing arts, music, visual

arts, popular culture, debates and even heston blumenthal’s culinary

experiments and in 2007 resulted in over 200,000 attenders from

across the uK and the world. the 2009 Festival will see over 20

new commissions, including the pairing of renowned architectural

practice Zaha hadid architects with the music of bach in a

transformed exhibition space within Manchester art gallery,

and Prima Donna, the debut opera from rufus wainwright.

Manchester international Festival celebrates the city’s

pivotal role in culture and innovation.

Opposite, bottom Advanced ticket sales for the world premiere of Rufus Wainwright’s first opera, Prima Donna, at the Manchester International Festival, from 10 July 2009.

Opposite, top Manchester International Festival is the world’s first international festival of original, new work and special events. In 2007 it drew in artists from as far afield as Japan, Brazil and Indonesia, and in 2009 it will feature artists from countries including Cuba, Cameroon, Bali and Bangladesh.

life must be good if our city is to prosper. the essentials? a good school, better health and a weekend that means something; a decent home; a reduced fear of crime. Manchester knows that an ever-improving quality of life is a fundamental ingredient for economic growth and success. to attract the best and give today’s citizens the life they deserve and the inspiration they need to innovate, challenge and seize opportunity, this is our continuing challenge. our schools are being rebuilt; our hospitals revitalised; our record on crime is radically improved, comparing favourably with other british cities; we are just an hour from three national Parks and a host of other destinations. living here is good. this is home.

living here is good this is hoMe

14/15—liFe

ManChester aCadeMIes

The Academies programme brings public

and private sector sponsors and schools

together to create a new educational

environment. Established in disadvantaged

areas, Academies are key to the drive

to raise standards and aspirations and

create opportunities.

The seven Academies being

created in Manchester are: Manchester

Creative Academy, Manchester Media

Academy, The Co-operative Academy of

Manchester, Manchester Communication

Academy, East Manchester Academy,

Manchester Health Academy and

Manchester Enterprise Academy.

At the Manchester Enterprise

Academy, for example, Manchester Airport

is investing heavily in the local community

and their future workforce. Their knowledge

of business, travel and tourism will help

to enrich the curriculum and there is the

chance to get involved in work placements

and the pilot cadet programme.

The other sponsors of Manchester

Enterprise Academy are Willow Park

Housing Trust and The Manchester College.

Together these can provide a range of

opportunities from a wide selection of

courses to work placements in construction,

surveying and community work.

Giving students the chance to believe

in their aspirations and connecting their

school life to the world of work prepares

them to take an active and successful role

in society. Providing these opportunities

cannot be underestimated.

learning the roPes

think about the future of Manchester and turning your attention

to the next generation is unavoidable. the children, teenagers and

graduates of today are going to play a huge part in the long-range

direction of this city.

investing in this future generation, providing them with

the very best start in life, the broadest range of opportunities and

allowing their aspirations to become reality means the future of

Manchester will most definitely be bright.

investment takes the form of educational excellence, physical

improvements, emotional well-being and industry experience. couple

these with the opportunity to work alongside real world companies

and a commitment to students’ emotional welfare and our next

generation are armed and ready for the world beyond education.

our focus needs to take in high quality further education provision

and the opportunity schools present as genuine community hubs.

investment in the city’s schools has been given a real boost

through initiatives such as the Primary capital Programme and

building schools for the Future. both will see widespread

improvements of building stock and facilities and both are already

generating results across the region.

the Primary capital Programme brings a 15-year build

programme to every local authority and will see a number of the

region’s schools renewed and updated. this investment in our

primary schools is critical in terms of raising standards in education,

creating better opportunities for young people and safeguarding

a positive future for them and the wider community.

building schools for the Future (bsF) brings together

significant investment in buildings and in ict (information and

communications technology) to support the government’s

educational reform agenda. in Manchester there is £500 million

capital investment to rebuild, refurbish or replace 33 schools, seven

of which are set to be specialist academies sponsored by the likes

of the Manchester college, bt, the co-operative group, laing

o’rourke, bovis lend lease, and the central Manchester university

hospitals nhs Foundation trust.

THE BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE AND ACADEMIES PROGRAMMES WILL BRING A £500 MILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO REBUILD, REFURBISH OR REPLACE 33 SCHOOLS

16/17—liFe

the ManChester CUrrICUlUM

The Manchester Curriculum is just

one of a range of curriculum initiatives.

Established by the Royal Society for the

Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures

and Commerce (RSA), the idea behind

it is a unique curriculum, contextualised

within Manchester. The curriculum is

local – based on the rich economic and

cultural history of Manchester – but within

a global context. With such a strong

heritage, Manchester’s history forms

part of this but the curriculum is firmly

rooted in the city’s future.

The objective is to develop a culture

of learning both within schools and beyond

into the local communities. The aim

is to raise the levels of aspiration and

achievement of all pupils in Manchester

schools; to engage this ethnographically

diverse population with their own learning;

to engage them constructively with the

future of the city; and to provide the context

through which skills and attitudes may be

developed, thereby encouraging and

enabling this population to make a positive

contribution to the city’s future – and to

their own futures.

In essence, it is time for the curriculum

to change so that it makes sense to the

learner, increases engagement in learning

and raises community aspirations. The

Manchester Curriculum wants to go even

further; to create a transferable vernacular

curriculum so it could be adopted by any

city or town that can then apply its own

social and historical context.

ROCHDALE 21.4%

BURY 1.7%

BOLTON 7.1%

TAMESIDE 16.3%

WIGAN 14.8% OLDHAM 23.8%

SALFORD 25.2%

MANCHESTER 18.1%

TRAFFORD 11.3 %

STOCKPORT 16.2%

ROCHDALE 7.7%

BURY 6.4%

BOLTON 6.2%

TAMESIDE 4.9%

WIGAN 7.5% OLDHAM 7.7%

SALFORD 7.9%

MANCHESTER 10.1%

TRAFFORD 6.3%

STOCKPORT 7.1%

above Percentage improvement at Key Stage 2: Pupils achieving above the expected level, 2004-2007. DCFS.

above Percentage improvement at GCSE. Students attaining 5+ GCSEs including English and Maths, A*–C, 2004-2007. DCFS.

CRIME IN GREATER MANCHESTER HAS GONE DOWN BY 20%

saFety First

think of the world’s leading cities; the thriving cities of the future

where commerce succeeds, visitors flock and culture is rich. one

thing these cities have in common is their commitment to a continual

improvement in terms of safety and crime. this recognition and

importance is, in part, down to a focus on neighbourhoods and

quality of life. but there are other benefits that can cascade from

investment in safety and security: increased visitor numbers, investor

confidence and an improved national and international image.

tackling crime and finding effective ways of preventing

crime are key features in the city’s future. Manchester is committed

to creating a safe environment for all. For greater Manchester Police

in particular, the growth and success of the city has provided fresh

challenges. with new developments springing up across the city and

a booming city centre residential population, the need to create a

safe and reassuring environment is imperative.

work remains to be done but there is already a good news

story to be told. Figures show that the city is getting safer – crime

has gone down by 20 per cent in the past five years. this trend must

continue and the police can play a part in both law enforcement and

the creation of civic pride. Mancunians can be proud to belong to

the city, proud of its achievements and proud of its reputation.

we can celebrate and build on success, and we must meet

the challenges that lie ahead.

new threats on our streets need to be recognised and tackled

in a much more coherent manner. an intelligence-based, strategic

regime will work alongside the traditional neighbourhood policing

models to forge the ‘prevent’ agenda and guarantee a safe and secure

future for all.

Fighting crime means adapting to change and embracing

innovation. the sheer geographical and physical growth of the city

has been a challenge and now a new state-of-the-art headquarters

at central Park will create a strategic resource centre for the region.

the city’s crime and disorder reduction Partnership (cdrP) is

the union of several agencies including greater Manchester Police,

Manchester city council, crown Prosecution service, national

health service and the greater Manchester Fire service. the cdrP

has one overriding objective: to make Manchester a safer place to

live, work and enjoy. its 2005-08 strategy was a resounding success

and the city has experienced a significant reduction in crime. the

new strategy for 2008-11 aims to build on this success and continues

to bring about a downturn in crime.

18/19—liFe

health oF a city

Manchester, and the northwest as a whole, faces many challenges

when it comes to the health of its people. but the city has some

trailblazing health brands right on its doorstep. the christie,

central Manchester university hospitals nhs Foundation trust,

and Manchester: integrating Medicine and innovative technology

(MiMit) are all world leaders in the research and treatment of

patients. the university hospital of south Manchester nhs acute

trust is already recognised as a centre of excellence for a number

of specialisms and a major treatment and research centre. the vision

for the hospital is to become a world-class health research, treatment,

manufacturing and education zone, created specifically to develop

and exploit the benefits of ground-breaking medicine.

and getting this innovation and quality to the people on

the street is where Manchester can help to improve the health of

all its citizens.

it is this ambition to improve the health of its population

that has spurred the city into making significant investment in health

with around £15 million earmarked for new facilities. a new policy

based around Practice based commissioning (Pbc) has been

developed. this aims to provide primary healthcare professionals

with the resources and support to become more involved in the

commissioning and development of health services. these people are

in the perfect position to assess, redesign and deliver tailored services

that respond to the needs of their patients. this means that patients

will benefit from more convenient and appropriate treatment and

more personalised care.

there is also investment happening in the physical stock

under the strategic service development Plan. Five new practices

are being created – one in charlestown under the Fairness in Primary

care agenda and four under the equitable access in Primary care,

in levenshulme, longsight, Moston and the city centre.

the ChrIstIe nhs FOUndatIOn trUst

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is the

largest cancer treatment centre of its kind

in Europe and an international leader in

research and development. It provides

high-quality diagnosis, specialist surgery,

chemotherapy, radiotherapy, palliative and

supportive care for patients alongside

research and education facilities.

The statistics speak for themselves.

As one of the world’s largest radiotherapy

departments, The Christie delivers more

than 84,000 radiotherapy treatments;

over 34,000 outpatient chemotherapy

treatments; 6,600 admitted chemotherapy

stays and around 3,700 surgical operations

every year. The Christie is one of only two

hospitals in the country offering surgical

treatment for patients with pseudomyxoma

and the young oncology unit is one of only

eight dedicated teenage cancer units.

Central ManChester UnIversIty hOspItals nhs FOUndatIOn trUst

Manchester’s Children’s Hospitals are

renowned the world over. Seeing around

135,000 patients each year across a range

of specialties including oncology, burns,

genetics, haematology, bone marrow

transplantation, and orthopaedics, a new

state-of-the-art facility is set to make it

one of the largest hospitals in the UK.

In the new hospital all the departments

are close to the equipment and support that

the patients need for seamless care and

purpose-built accommodation for families

and carers means they can stay close by.

The hospital is also a major sponsor

of one of the city’s new academies, The

Manchester Health Academy, which will

bring the benefits of links with a health

provider to all its students, as well as

the wider community, whilst supporting

students across the city who are interested

in a career in the health sector.

£15 MILLION IS BEING INVESTED IN IMPROVED HEALTH FACILITIES AND SERVICES

20/21—liFe

Below In 1991, there were an estimated 1,324 people living in Manchester’s city centre. Since then, the desirability of urban living has soared and the population of the city centre has grown. In 2010, it is estimated that around 20,000 people could call Manchester city centre their home, a figure that looks set to increase still further.

transFOrMIng spaCes

The Northern Quarter is being transformed

into Manchester’s answer to Camden Lock.

Developer Argent has already signed up

the first tenant of The Hive, a 78,000 square

foot office development: Arts Council

England has agreed to be its anchor tenant

and will take up residence there from

December 2009. The Hive, along with

the wider plans for the regeneration of the

Northern Quarter, will support existing

retailers by generating greater footfall,

while it will also encourage new businesses

to set up shop in an area that boasts one

of the city region’s largest creative and

cultural communities. The Arts Council,

for example, will be joining queerupnorth

and Arts About Manchester, who both

reside nearby.

a Place to call hoMe

everybody needs somewhere they can call home. whether it’s loft

style living, victorian terraces, one-bedroom flats, country homes

or family friendly semi-detached houses, something that Manchester

can definitely be proud of are homes in all shapes and sizes.

there has been huge investment in the last ten years.

significant population growth in the city centre – from 1,324 people

in 1991 to 7,125 in 2001 and an estimated 20,000 by 2010 – has driven

the changes in the housing market. this growth brings with it a

services challenge. ensuring that city dwellers have the doctors,

dentists, schools and convenience stores they need for everyday life

will both attract and retain this population.

Pull your focus back a degree or two and beyond the city

centre, Manchester is a surprisingly ‘green’ city. leafy suburbs

dominate the city region – didsbury, bramhall, and worsley all

boast tree-lined streets; bolton and wigan are blessed with expanses

of countryside; and heaton and wythenshawe Parks provide wide

open spaces for city dwellers, just two amongst hundreds of parks

across Manchester.

but what about the areas in between? the ‘doughnut ring’

around the city centre that has suffered declining popularity and

housing market failure. it is here where investment is most needed.

and it is here where the really interesting holistic developments such

as new islington are underway.

strategIC COMMIssIOn FOr spatIal plannIng and hOUsIng

Making sure that the right homes are

provided in the right areas is essential

to creating successful communities.

A Greater Manchester-wide Strategic

Commission for Spatial Planning and

Housing is being established to deliver the

city region’s goals for sustainable housing

growth and regeneration. There are also

plans for sub-regional housing strategies,

to be delivered by the Commission, to

ensure a balanced, high quality housing

offer is sustained across the city region.

19911,324

20017,125

200614,266

200716,004

200918,757

201019,773

22/23

above The ambition for New Islington – to be the best place in Manchester. Urban Splash.

Below Forecast for household growth across Greater Manchester, drawn from ‘Making Housing Count: a Housing Demand Model for the Manchester City Region‘, Oxford Economics March 2007

—liFe

20101,132,800

20121,155,100

20141,178,900

20161,203,100

20181,226,500

20201,249,300

new IslIngtOn

Nestled between the Rochdale and Ashton

Canals to the east of the city centre, the

old Cardroom Estate was in a spiral of

decline. Its location meant it was cut off

from surrounding areas, many homes

didn’t face the street, there was a confusing

mish-mash of public and private spaces

and the whole area was difficult to police.

People started to move away and those

that remained felt increasingly marginalised.

With the local community on side, the

decision was taken to create the UK’s third

Millennium Community. The whole project

was underway by 2002 and by 2014 it

should be complete.

Renamed New Islington, the area

incorporates affordable housing with

everything a community needs – a school,

health centre, eco park, shops, bars and

leisure facilities. These are not isolated

homes, this is the creation of a new, thriving

community and New Islington is providing

the model for others to follow.

The environment around New Islington

is a key feature of the development. The

Rochdale and Ashton canals provide a

perfect starting point and new canals have

been created to link these. The area boasts

the first new park to be built in Manchester

since the 19th Century – Cotton Fields is

also the venue for the annual New Islington

Urban Folk Festival. The new park will

incorporate a wetlands area, nesting boxes,

an eco-island and ‘beach’ to provide places

for wildlife to thrive and people to learn and

experience the outdoors.

New Islington is even letting people

who want to live there design their own

homes. In the ‘Tutti Frutti’ development

(so named in homage to the 19th Century

Italian community) anyone can design and

build their dream house on a designated

plot. It’s a novel idea, one that was inspired

by Borneo Sporenburg in Amsterdam, and

one that sits perfectly with Manchester’s

innovative attitude.

A GREENGROCER AND NEWSAGENT, A GOOD TAKEAWAY AND THE BEST FISH AND CHIPS.A HAIRDRESSER, AND A BEAUTIFUL LAUNDERETTE, A GREAT PUB, A PONCEY BAR, A CAFE, A CAFF AND A GREASY SPOON, A CHIC ITALIAN WITH CHECKED TABLECLOTHS OR A RESTAURANT WITH 3 MICHELIN STARS, A MARKET TO BUY LOCAL FOOD,A FOOTIE PITCH THAT’S SAFE TO USE, A FANTASTIC NURSERY, A WONDERFUL CRECHE. AND A STATE OF THE ART CLINIC.”

“

FORMBY 1 HOUR

SNOWDONIA 2 HOURS

THE LAKES 1.5 HOURS

PEAK DISTRICT 1 HOUR

YORKSHIRE DALES 1 HOUR

left In Manchester, you’re never more than a couple of hours away from some of the country’s most beautiful places. From National Parks to stunning coastlines and country estates, the great outdoors is there to be explored.

CO-Op

Standing at 20 acres, the Co-operative

Group has the largest site for regeneration

in the centre of Manchester. With no

less than seven listed buildings within its

boundaries, forming part of the Shudehill

Conservation area and sitting right next

to Victoria Station, the site really is a

prime location.

The masterplan has been drawn up

with Arup and reflects the site’s heritage

and history alongside the Co-operative’s

ongoing commitment to sustainability and

community. Arup beat off competition from

over 30 companies from all over the world

to win the right to shape the future of

Manchester’s Northern Gateway.

the w hOtel

W Hotels Worldwide is one of the fastest

growing luxury hotel brands in the world,

but, until now, the UK had not been able to

sample its unique combination of opulence

and local flavour. A new development in

Manchester will put paid to that: in late

2010 The W Manchester opens on Princess

Street. Within walking distance of Piccadilly

Station, the Ian Simpson-designed hotel will

contain 160 luxury rooms, 7,000 square feet

of meeting and event space, a ballroom,

spa and fitness rooms, shop and top-notch

restaurant. The W Manchester will be driven

by luxury: bespoke interior design with

a Mancunian flavour, complemented by

signature scents, unique visual art, music,

cutting edge technology and what W Hotels

boast is the most advanced in-room

entertainment system in the industry. The

W Manchester will also feature the brand’s

‘Whatever/Whenever’ service, which aims

to provide discerning customers with

whatever they want, 24 hours a day.

downtiMe, goodtiMe

For people living in and around Manchester, the area offers much

to see and do. the city region sits framed by three spectacular

national Parks – lake district, Peak district and snowdonia.

it has a dense and improving network of waterways; outside the

centre of the city there are large parklands and leafy suburbs.

getting away from the urban jungle is easy.

exploring the city’s industrial heritage and uncovering

the stories that make this city tick can bring a new understanding

to residents and visitors alike.

For culture vultures, major events such as Manchester

international Festival embody the innovative, globally ambitious

qualities that inform the city’s original Modern vision while,

elsewhere, organisations are working together in new ways to

deliver exceptional exhibitions and events.

24/25—liFe

spInnIngFIelds

Spinningfields, a £1.5 billion commercial

development in the heart of Manchester,

is also home to the city’s newest retail, dining

and entertainment development. Created by

Allied London in partnership with Manchester

City Council, Spinningfield’s primary focus

is its office space: almost four million square

feet in all, that will, once complete, be

home to 25,000 white-collar workers.

It is already the location of choice for the

Bank of New York Mellon, Royal Bank of

Scotland, Guardian Media Group, Deloitte

and Halliwells.

But what sets Spinningfields apart

from other commercial developments is

the fact that the 10-hectare site has been

planned and developed as a whole, rather

than as a series of individual buildings.

So, alongside top quality office space,

will be award-winning architecture, a

five star hotel, luxury apartments and

pedestrianised public spaces.

The new retail area will help pull

the whole development together, with

The Manchester Civil Justice Centre at

one end and, in Spinningfields Square, a

flagship Armani store at the other. Between

purchases, shoppers can relax in a diverse

range of eateries, including Carluccio’s,

Wagamama and Strada, with five additional

signature restaurants also in the pipeline.

With many of the buildings finished

and populated, Spinningfields is a living

and breathing example of how major new

developments can successfully work

alongside an established city centre. An

award-winning development of individual

architectural statements and dynamic public

realm – Spinningfields has the perfect mix

for a lively urban area.

Design and construction will continue

well into 2011. In the meantime, this new

urban centre will acquire its own identity

as it becomes increasingly recognised as

a natural extension to the city centre.

RETAIL TURNOVER IN THE CITY CENTRE HAS GROWN BY £300 MILLION PER YEAR

hit the shoPs

Manchester’s retail sector has been transformed. large-scale

regeneration, new shopping developments and an influx of retailers

have made the city region one of britain’s leading retail destinations.

according to cityco, the city centre management company, since

2003, turnover in the regional centre has grown by a staggering

£300 million per year, with 540,000 square feet of new retail space

underpinning this rapid growth. Manchester city centre in particular

attracts visitors from across the country, keen to experience its mix

of big brands, independent boutiques and specialist markets.

leading the high street, Manchester arndale has been subject

to a recent £150 million development, while brand hunters can browse

high-end collections in selfridges or harvey nichols.

specialist shopping is also one of Manchester’s strengths,

offering an impressive array of independent retailers, while a regular,

year-round programme of specialist markets across the city region

allows shoppers to choose from goods as diverse as farm produce and

edgy fashion. the northern Quarter is Manchester’s self-styled

creative quarter. its narrow streets shelter a variety of independent

fashion boutiques, vintage stores, record shops, commercial galleries,

coffee houses and bars. the area is also home to a growing creative

community: those artists, arts organisations, design studios,

photographers, fashion labels and more whose staff support the

vibrant retail sector. Part of the northern Quarter’s charm comes

from both this close-knit community and from the surrounding

architecture. here, restored 18th and 19th century warehouses allude

to the area’s historical links to Manchester’s textiles trade, while the

romanesque façade of the former smithfield Market now provides

a backdrop to flats, bars and the chinese arts centre. nearby, the

Manchester craft & design centre makes use of another former

victorian market hall; within its listed eaves 18 craft studios sell

original jewellery, ceramics, furniture and textiles.

welcome back. Manchester is innovating, again; with fresh thinking, real world science and the search for sustainable solutions. innovation is of course about more than new ideas and the filing of patents. it is a state of mind, a process, a dynamic conversation and a call to arms; it is an eco-system. this city thinks differently. that’s why there is a huge investment being made in knowledge, in our universities and in the physical places where intelligence takes hold. we fashioned the modern world: so let’s do it again.

welcoMebacK we areinnovating again

26/27—intelligence

a global, Knowledge econoMy

the global economy is in transition; moving from an industrial

base to one that is knowledge-focused. always international in

outlook, Manchester has witnessed the same migration, as it seeks

to build an economy around knowledge, innovation and technology.

its early success in this area is based on a number of factors:

internationally-renowned academic research, well-established

technology, bio-science and innovation-rich businesses, an

international communications and transport infrastructure and

a social and cultural environment that attracts and retains highly

skilled workers, entrepreneurs and graduates.

a close relationship between the city region’s four universities

and the wider business community is vital to sustaining the knowledge

economy. the university of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan

university (MMu) benefit from their proximity to the 35,000 people in

Manchester who work in high value-added, knowledge-based activity.

but right across the city region, the universities have strong links to

industry; business placements and knowledge transfer partnerships

remain a priority. the university of salford’s research institute for the

built and human environment, for example, is not only academically

impressive (it was awarded the top accolade in a recent government

assessment) but works closely with industry partners such as laing

o’rourke, bruntwood and balfour beatty.

the university of Manchester, meanwhile, has been ranked

third in the research Power table compiled by the research assessment

exercise (rae) 2008. with only oxford and cambridge universities

above it, the university of Manchester is flexing its research muscle in a

competitive field. it has also created 100 spinout companies and invested

heavily in facilities for innovation-rich businesses, ensuring that new

products will continue to be created, tested and brought to market.

the universities also have a part to play in engaging the

public and in encouraging children and young adults to take up

science and technology subjects at school and beyond. the university

of Manchester, salford and MMu have formed smart city Futures,

an initiative designed to forge closer links between academia and

civic leaders, professionals and ordinary citizens. beacons for Public

engagement and Manchester science Festival are both longer-term

projects that aim to raise public awareness of science and technology,

while MMu’s science learning centre northwest promises to

revolutionise the teaching of science subjects in schools and thus

nurture the science communities of the future.

25 PER CENT OF THE CITY’S LABOUR POOL IS EDUCATED TO DEGREE LEVEL

28/29—intelligence

UNIVERSITY OF BOLTON

UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD

UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

renOvO

Renovo was established in 2000 as a

venture capital based spin-out company

from the University of Manchester and

has since become a world leader in scar

prevention and reduction research.

The company was built on more

than 20 years of internationally acclaimed

research and now employs over 150 staff,

many of whom are graduates from the

University itself. Renovo has thrived amid

Manchester’s culture of innovation and

clinical excellence, and remains on track

to become the first company to produce

a marketed drug in the US and Europe

that can prevent and reduce scarring.

bioMedical research

Manchester’s biomedical research centre is a £35 million initiative

that brings together researchers and clinicians from the university

of Manchester and central Manchester university hospitals nhs

Foundation trust, to create a world-class clinical academic campus

in the city.

one of only 12 elite centres of medical research excellence

in the uK, the centre specialises in high-quality, patient-focused

translational research that will enhance our understanding of health

and disease, identify ways to alleviate chronic long-term disability

and develop new therapies for a range of conditions including mental

health and cardiovascular disease. with this centre, Manchester is

placed at the forefront of developing new medicines and treatments

that will influence future healthcare provision across the nhs.

the biomedical research centre is focusing on three areas

of excellence in translational research – experimental therapeutics,

genetic and developmental medicine and tissue injury and repair.

the research projects will tackle some of the most important issues

of the Manchester population, and will enable patients to access

leading clinical treatments, both through clinical trials and the

early adoption of new treatments across Manchester.

the Manchester biomedical research centre is funded by

the national institute for health research, and is supported by the

northwest regional development agency, Manchester city council

and range of commercial partners which include astraZeneca and

glaxosmithKline.

above Every year 27,000 students graduate from one of Greater Manchester’s leading Universities.

30/31—intelligence

innovation Manchesterinnovation Manchester is an initiative created by Manchester:

Knowledge capital, nesta, northwest regional development

agency and Manchester city council, designed to fast-track

innovation across the city region. six teams, drawn from the public

and private sectors, including 70 business leaders, looked at areas

where Manchester has particular strengths and opportunities for

innovation. the project has led to new networks that will improve

communication between sectors and thus collaboration, funding and

development of new ideas. the innovation Manchester programme

is backed by a £9 million innovation investment Fund, funded by

nesta (the national endowment for science, technology and the

arts), the northwest regional development agency and Manchester

city council. already, this Fund has supported the Manchester

independent economic review and MiMit (Manchester: integrating

Medicine and innovative technology), the Manchester integrated

Medical and innovative technology programme.

the Fund will also support a Futurology conference,

an event that will allow businesses to pinpoint future technology

trends and hear from a wide range of international speakers.

Manchester Masters

the Manchester Masters scheme has been developed to help retain

the best creative graduate talent in the city. Manchester’s history is

punctuated by great people having some great ideas. it’s a tradition

the city hopes to continue.

with funding drawn from the innovation investment Fund,

Manchester Masters will take ten exemplary graduates from across

the city region each year and give them the chance to work in

different organisations and have their own industry mentor. the

benefits are two-fold; graduates will get the chance to gain invaluable

experience in Manchester’s Pr, marketing, media, digital and design

companies; the businesses involved will get to work with the best new

talent in the city.

ManChester sCIenCe park

Known as an internationally renowned

hub for entrepreneurship and innovation,

Manchester Science Park (msp) has

been playing a key role in supporting

Manchester’s knowledge economy for

25 years. Mancheser Science Park is

home to around 90 companies who

between them employ some 1,000

people across a range of science and

technology-related sectors, from digital

media and web development to clinical

research and biotechnology.

Established during the recession-hit

1980s as a visionary partnership between

the University of Manchester, the City

Council and private companies, msp is

a testament to the fact that innovation

thrives amid an environment built on

creativity, active business support and

knowledge sharing. msp has provided

a fertile development ground for many

entrepreneurs and nearly a quarter

of all the parks’ residents are spin-offs from

universities. Many also take advantage of

msp’s versatile business support network,

dedicated business development team and

strong links with the private sector

and global markets.

HOW WILL THE INNOVATION INVESTMENT FUND ACHIEVE ITS GOALS?COMMUNITIES OF INNOVATORSUNDERSTANDING INNOVATIONINSPIRING INNOVATIONEMBEDDING INNOVATIONIDEAS TO INVESTMENT

32/33—intelligence

sCIenCe CIty

Manchester was designated a ‘Science

City’ by government in 2004, a recognition

of its strengths in science, technology

and healthcare, and its vibrant knowledge

economy, which employs around 35,000

people in Manchester alone.

One of six ‘science cities’, the initiative

was launched to help foster innovation by

nurturing partnerships between academics,

researchers, entrepreneurs and business

leaders and create an environment where

ideas flourish and innovation is nurtured.

The Science City programme has

three strands of work: The Innovation

Ecosystem – developing an environment

which attracts talent, creativity and

investment alongside networks,

partnerships and support; Real World

Science – unlocking the benefits of science

and innovation for the public good and

allowing more people to get involved in

decision-making; and the Innovation

Partnerships – developing some unique

collaborations between academic and

industry specialists in key areas such as

healthcare, digital and the environment.

BIRMINGHAM

NEWCASTLE

NOTTINGHAM

BRISTOL

YORK

MANCHESTER

CONNECTIVITY (PHYSICAL AND ELECTRONIC)SKILLS, SPECIALIST SKILLSPROPERTY, LAND, BUILT ENVIRONMENT QUALITY OF LIFE, QUALITY OF PLACEURBAN INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR NETWORKSCHANGE ASSETS, STAR SCIENTISTS

Below The main types of urban assets and their role in innovation, as outlined by Cushman, Wakefield, Healey and Baker, 2004.

above The six Science Cities, of which Manchester is one.

gentrOnIx

Established in 1999 as a spin-out from

the University of Manchester, Gentronix

is an innovative biotechnology company

that’s helping to accelerate the pace of

drug development.

The company has developed a new

technology called GreenScreen for use in

genetic toxicity screening. The process can

identify genotoxic compounds, which are

potentially harmful to humans, much earlier

in drug discovery than other methods.

Over 50 pharmaceutical and fine

chemical companies in eleven countries

now use GreenScreen HC data as part

of their genotoxicity profiling strategy.

the InCUBatOr

Based at the Manchester Business School,

the Incubator has proved a launch pad for

hundreds of innovative business ideas.

Run by a team of entrepreneurs,

the Incubator offers start-up businesses

the chance to access advice, support and

an unparalleled network of professional

and business experts. It is also a key part

of the school’s internationally respected

MBA programme, with postgraduate

students working on project briefs

specifically written for entrepreneurs.

Central park

Central Park, in east Manchester, is a

successful joint venture between Ask

and Goodman that’s currently supporting

40 local firms employing over 120 people.

Established to help new businesses

make their mark, as well as acting as an

economic catalyst for the area, the initiative

has been a true Mancunian success story.

Companies based at the site include an

innovative online retailer, tree2mydoor;

business consultants Winning Pitch; and

an academy for would-be taxi drivers.

Such has been its success that the model

has now been copied by other cities across

the UK.

Medical innovation

a joint effort between the university of Manchester and the greater

Manchester nhs and Primary care trusts, MiMit (Manchester:

integrating Medicine and innovative technology) focuses on

developing radical new healthcare technologies. it builds on existing

expertise within greater Manchester, matching clinical need to

areas where Manchester already has particular bio-medical and

engineering strengths. MiMit will also create a cross-sector network

by running forums open to clinicians, scientists, engineers and

industry partners in all disciplines; in turn, generating opportunities

to brainstorm unexpected ideas and build effective teams.

on top of this, MiMit provides seed funding for projects

that show market potential and, thanks to close links to industry

partners, can help ensure that any products developed are fit for

market. the end result of MiMit’s activity, however, will have a

profound impact on patient treatment: it will create a steady flow of

new devices, diagnostics and healthcare systems that can be rapidly

brought to market and then taken up by healthcare professionals

within greater Manchester and beyond.

MiMit is the first international affiliate of the us-based

center for integration of Medicine & innovative technology (ciMit).

collaboration between boston and Manchester is highly likely, while

the Manchester centre will be used to assess whether the model can

be rolled out across europe and the rest of the world. ciMit was

established in 1998 as a non-profit consortium and is driven by the

idea that technology is one of the ways to deliver better healthcare

for people across the world.

LAW10,220

COMPUTER SCIENCE14,555

ENGINEEERING AND TECHNOLOGY16,430

CREATIVE ART AND DESIGN16,675

LANGUAGES18,615

BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES 37,485

Below Students within one hour’s drive time, by key subject area.

34/35—intelligence

MANCHESTER BUSINESS SCHOOL MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

above University of Manchester International students top 20

above MBS and MMU International Exchange Partners

Most certainly not; but even in challenging times such as these there are new developments and new partnerships helping to transform the shape, look and function of the city. into spaces shaped by a libeskind, alsop or Meier come new businesses and new ventures that have made Manchester a leading centre of growth in the last decade. this is a cultural, commercial and canny city, attracting some of the world’s biggest global brands. it has the appetite and momentum to be and become a major player in the new economy. there is a large, talented workforce, easy access to international markets, and a central uK location. the Manchester model, reinvented.

can success be gauged through the cranes on the sKyline?

36/37—business

city with aMbition

the Manchester independent economic review (Mier) is the first

economic study ever created for a uK conurbation and will provide

a rigorous assessment of the current state and future potential of the

Manchester city region’s economy. completely independent of local

and national government, the review is led by a panel of prominent

economists and business leaders who have commissioned work on

seven strands of analysis.

as a city with ambition, it is not unusual that Manchester

is striving to discover what it needs to do to continue to make its

economy flourish. these findings will help policy-makers to

understand what strengths and weaknesses exist and the action

that needs to be taken so that Manchester can achieve long-term

sustainable economic growth.

this agenda-setting report will pull together the seven

strands of analysis, output from the comprehensive baseline study,

as well as incorporating extensive intelligence gathered from a year

long consultation across the public, private and voluntary sector,

to provide the foundation for an ambitious economy strategy for

the city region.

new growth will be built on substantial success stories

across a number of sectors. in business services the city has continued

to grow with investment from both uK and locally headquartered

financial and professional services firms such as co-operative

Financial services and halliwells solicitors, but also international

businesses such as bank of new york Mellon, ibM and the state

bank of india. Manchester is also now europe’s leading location for

pan-european shared service centres and a global outsourcing centre

of excellence, with companies such as Fujitsu services, astraZeneca,

esso serve europe and teletech well established in the city region.

Manchester’s manufacturing tradition is being reborn and

re-engineered with advanced engineering, renewable energy and

environmental technologies, all with close research links to the

universities at the fore and global names like PZ cussons, Jacobs,

shimadzu, siemens, brother, l’oreal, Proctor &gamble, cargill,

ingersoll-rand and hitachi; heinz, Kellogg’s and warburtons in

the food sector, and adidas reebok and nike umbro in sportswear.

and as the development of MediacityuK underlines, the

city’s historic strength in media, with the likes of guardian Media

group and itv granada is not only complemented by the significantly

increased bbc presence but also by growth in the creative, digital,

ict and communications sector, attracting names like cisco, google

and yahoo.

seCtOrs FOr ManChester’s eCOnOMIC FUtUre

Financial and professional services This sector is, by some margin, the

largest contributor to the city region’s

economy, accounting for 21.2 per cent

of Gross Value Added (GVA). It currently

employs more than 240,000 people across

26,300 businesses.

Creative, digital and new Media The sector includes a range of areas

including TV production, website design

and advertising, which together employ

over 77,000 people across more than

8,000 businesses. According to MIER,

it is responsible for 5.5 per cent of

Manchester’s GVA.

life sciences and healthcare Manchester is home to 75 per cent of

the regional life science and biomedical

sector, employing over 185,000 people

and producing nearly 12 per cent of the

city region’s GVA.

Manufacturing The sector, as well as its sub-sectors such

as advanced engineering, is a significant

employer. Nearly 185,000 people, or one

in seven people living in the city region,

still work in manufacturing.

ICt digital/Communications With the largest concentration of ICT

industries outside the South East, the

sector now boasts over 8,000 businesses,

employing over 55,000 people and

contributing 4.2 per cent of the GVA.

aviation and Manchester airport Aviation employs around 14,000 people

and contributes just 1.2 per cent of the

region’s GVA, but it is seen as a major

growth accelerator that underpins

expansion in many other sectors, such

as financial and professional services

and knowledge industries.

38/39—business

5.2 MILLION

5 MILLION

1.75 MILLION

7.5 MILLION

CapItal FlOws

A major hub of industry and commerce,

Manchester has developed into the largest

sub-regional economy outside London and

the South East. The city region’s economic

performance over recent years has been

strong with output growing at a rate above

that of similar areas not only in the UK but

also across Europe.

Generating over £50 billion of GVA,

the city region contributes 51 per cent of

the Northwest’s total economic output

and five per cent of the UK total.

As more businesses choose to

set up operations in the city region and

thriving local firms expand, Manchester’s

robust economy is set to strengthen even

further. Over the next decade, growth is

forecast to continue at an annual average

of 2.1 per cent, reaffirming the Manchester

City Region as a leading European economy.

right 7.5 million people live within commuting distance of Manchester City Centre. To put that into perspective, 5 million people live in Scotland, while Northern Ireland has a population of just 1.75 million.

4. BIRMINGHAM

8. NEWCASTLE

3. LIVERPOOL

5. CARDIFF

6. SHEFFIELD

10. LONDON

2. LEEDS

9. BRISTOL

7. GLASGOW

1. MANCHESTER

sharp prOjeCt

Developed to complement MediaCityUK,

the old Sharp electronics distribution centre

in east Manchester is being transformed

into a £5m creative and digital hub, that will

create up to 500 new jobs.

The 200,000 square foot building will

include a choice of suites to suit all budgets,

ensuring that the city continues to offer

a range of locations for the creative sector,

from incubators and managed workspace;

through to fully-fitted production studios.

The most exciting development

planned for the Sharp building is a virtual

Super Studio, a global network of digital

production centres linked by common

technology and based on a ‘follow the sun’

model. With Manchester as the UK hub,

additional studios in Toronto and Perth

will open up new links with the animation

industry worldwide and give Manchester

animators access around the world to

new markets, co-productions and new

global partnerships.

Bank OF new yOrk MellOn

Despite the turmoil in the financial markets,

Manchester continues to show its resilience

and quality as a European growth centre.

Last year The Bank of New York Mellon

announced it was to expand its operations

in the city. The bank, which specialises in

back office transaction processing rather

than more risky trading operations, arrived

in Manchester in 2005, employing 800

people at its offices in Piccadilly Gardens.

In autumn 2008 the bank announced

it was to employ a further 400 people at

a second location in Spinningfields.

Manchester is on the uP

Manchester has firmly established itself as a leading european

business location and in 2008 it was ranked higher than any other

uK city outside london, moving up from 18th to 14th place in the

cushman & wakefield european cities monitor.

the research was based on responses from senior executives

from 500 top european companies, and also ranked Manchester as the

second best city in europe in terms of the availability of office space,

and tenth when it comes to the value for money offered by this space.

Manchester also performed exceptionally well in the

uK version of the monitor, with executives ranking the city as their

preferred choice as both a new headquarters location and for new

back office functions, for the second year running. Manchester also

ranked first as the city doing the most to improve and promote itself.

the appeal of the city has played an important role in attracting inward

investment, and this in turn has helped to fuel an unprecedented

period of business growth within the city region over the last decade.

but while Manchester’s economy still retains many of its

traditional strengths in areas such as manufacturing and engineering,

it has also embraced new technology, and taken advantage of its position

as a true international hotspot for industries such as digital and biotech.

left The Cushman and Wakefield UK Cities Monitor table places Manchester at No.1 for city improvement and promotion

40/41—business

MedIaCItyUk

MediaCityUK is a 200 acre, multi-million

pound development at Salford Quays that

is set to become an international nucleus

for creative business and media.

The BBC, as anchor tenants, will be

relocating five departments and 2,500 staff

to MediaCityUK by 2011, and in total the

development will create jobs for 15,500

people and add some £1.5 billion to the

regional economy. A new iconic waterfront

building for the BBC will sit opposite The

Lowry and Imperial War Museum North.

MediaCityUK will create world-class

production facilities for the BBC that will

also be available for other broadcasters and

the region’s independent sector. Designers,

programmers, music, advertising, video

games, choreography and much more

will locate to form a creative hub. The

vision for MediaCityUK places creativity

and the needs of the industry at its heart,

with flexibility combined with a diversity

of different types of business premises,

incubator units and facilities that are

affordable and available for short-term rent.

A custom-built recording studio for the

BBC Philharmonic, the largest commercial

studio complex in the country, ample space

for independents, floating stages for theatre

and concerts, a stunning waterfront piazza,

high quality technical facilities and a visitor

destination that celebrates new media and

creativity are all being created.

MediaCityUK will also feature a

Skills Centre of Excellence and a research

institute, and is part of a wider 20 year

regeneration programme led by the Central

Salford Urban Regeneration Company.

business tourisM

business tourism is one of the most lucrative kinds of tourism.

the organisations and individuals who arrive here are attracted by

the world class facilities, fine reputation and opportunities that

the city offers.

when the labour Party held its annual conference in the

city in 2006, Manchester’s transformation into a leading international

business destination was complete. such was the success that the

conservative and labour parties’ annual conferences will be held

in Manchester in consecutive years from 2009 until at least 2011.

the opening of MediacityuK at salford Quays is set to boost

business tourism further as the city becomes home to the uK’s largest

dedicated media hub and welcomes the bbc. on top of this, other

developments, such as the £20 million redevelopment of Manchester

central will create new conference facilities that will attract even

more major international conferences.

the city now has over 250 outstanding venues, ranging from

major auditoriums like the Men arena, europe’s largest indoor

concert venue, to small, intimate spaces such as rooms in the historic

Midland hotel.

add to this over 5,500 hotel rooms in the city centre alone

and quick and easy access to Manchester airport; it’s clear why the

city continues to attract thousands of delegates to major conferences.

AVIATION +3,200CREATIVE, DIGITAL, NEW MEDIA +8,800ICT, DIGTIAL, COMMUNICATION +17,600LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRIES +21,000PROFESSIONAL SERVICES +56,400

above Job growth 1998-2006 across Greater Manchester key sectors from MIER Baseline Report

if the world’s definitive industrial city, which made its name and livelihood from coal and steam and the utilisation of natural resources, can aim to be a green city and succeed, there will be no city, anywhere in the world, that can place the environment in a pending tray labelled ‘too difficult’. the journey to a sustainable future must be taken. the price of carbon is set to challenge the price of oil as our primary economic barometer. nations and cities that embrace a low carbon future will be more competitive and future-proofed. we have to change the way we think, the way we work and the way we live. we have to once again become the global leader in a new kind of economics.

the Journey to a sustainableFuture Must be taKen

42/43—environMent

oPen sPaces

experiences differ. you may well be moving from train to hotel to

meeting; you may be a commuter; this could be home; this could

be school; you might be shopping. whichever it is, the public realm

of the city is a constant and important presence. the signs you follow,

the street furniture and waste bins, the public squares, the lighting,

the green between the grey and brown and red: for Manchester, it’s

the places between the buildings, their animation and experience,

that can really help to set this city apart.

in many cases, the places and spaces are already there.

in the centre of the city can be found st. anne’s square, Piccadilly

gardens, exchange square, stevenson square and more. some

are getting there, others are still too uninspiring. Manchester

recognises the need to improve its public realm and urban green

space. transforming spaces with a high level of design quality and

creating places where people want to be, pass through, feel safe

in and enjoy is the primary aim.

there are plans to improve the legibility of the city, with

a new strategy for signage and interpretation. the university of

Manchester is helping to lead the way with an £8 million project

to improve the landscape and public realm along oxford road,

an area where buses and students fill the streets. this investment

will help to create attractive and inviting spaces, with stronger

links to surrounding neighbourhoods through improvements such

as more trees, planting, cycle and pedestrian routes, street furniture,

lighting and paving.

alongside the public realm, the importance of green space

cannot be underestimated. bringing more greenery into the city

centre is a key feature in the future of Manchester. street trees, pocket

parks and new areas of planting will soften the hard edges of the city

and create a more attractive and healthy environment in which to be.

the bits between the buildings will come to be the city’s

unsung heroes. splashes of green, striking public art and beautifully

designed squares will create individual character. in a time of

homogeneity it is a city’s public realm and green space that will

set it apart.

WOODLAND COVER IN GREATER MANCHESTER HAS INCREASED BY 74% IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. THE CITY PLANS TO INCREASE IT’S TREE COVER BY A FURTHER 10% BY 2010

COrrIdOr ManChester

Corridor Manchester is the heart of the

city’s knowledge economy future. With

Oxford Road at its centre it stretches

from St. Peter’s Square in the north to

Whitworth Park in the south. Parts of the

area are undergoing the most significant

development programme in the city.

Well over £1.5billion is being invested by

the universities and hospitals alone. But

it’s not just ‘knowledge’ that gives the

Corridor its edge – it is also home to some

of the city’s great cultural destinations,

such as Whitworth Art Gallery.

The i-trees project gives a sense

of what the Corridor is all about. The

project will create a ‘living laboratory’,

used to develop scientific techniques that

can monitor environmental changes and

gather information on the effects of trees

and greening on improving our urban

micro-climates. As we green the Corridor

we will add to the world’s environmental

urban-knowledge bank. Couple this with

creative public realm initiatives and you

have a sense of what the Corridor is and

will be.

green streets

Climate change will impact on our city,

regardless of how quickly we reduce our

carbon emissions, and trees will have a

frontline role to play in adapting to a shift

in temperatures and an increase in the

intensity and overall levels of rainfall.

A Red Rose Forest initiative, the Green

Streets project helps local communities in

Manchester, Salford and Trafford to create

greener neighbourhoods by planting street

trees and flowers, making hanging baskets

and establishing community gardens and

environmental art works. It’s not just a case

of handing out funding, Green Streets

works alongside local residents to make

sure they are in involved in the design,

creation and maintenance of their scheme.

44/45

SMITHILLS COUNTRY PARK

BURRS COUNTRY PARK

BLACKLEACHCOUNTRY PARK

PENNINGTON FLASHCOUNTRY PARK

WERNETH LOWCOUNTRY PARK

ETHEROWCOUNTRY PARK

TANDLE HILLCOUNTRY PARK

QUEENS PARK

HOLLINS VALE

PEAK DISTRICT

HEATON PARK

LIVIA

DUNHAM PARK

DAISY NOOKMOSTON VALE

THE LAKES

NORTH WALES

LYME PARK

BLACKLEY FOREST

CLAYTON VALE

WHITWORTH PARK

ANGEL MEADOW PARK

PICCADILLY GARDENS

PEACE GARDEN

ALL SAINTS PARK

CROWCROFT PARK

BIRCHFIELDS PARK

CRINGLE FIELDS PARK

LADY BARN PARK

FOG LANE PARK

DIDSBURY PARK HEATON MERSEY COMMON

FLETCHER MOSS GARDENS

PARSONAGE GARDENS

ST ANN’S SQUARE

ST JOHN’S GARDEN

HULME PARK

ALEXANDRA PARK

PLATT FIELDS PARK

CHORLTON PARK

CHORLTON WATER PARK

PHILIPS PARK

SACKVILLE PARK

SALE WATER PARK

WYTHENSHAWE PARK

—environMent

top Green space Bottom Pocket parks and other open spaces within the city

HIGH DENSITY OLDER SUBURB

TOWN CENTRE

INNER CORE SOUTH

SEMI-DETACHED SUBURB

SOCIAL PERIPHERY

MOORLAND TOWNS

PROSPEROUS COUNTRY

INNER CORE NORTH

OUTER SUBURB

INNER SUBURB

REGIONAL CENTRE

sense oF Place

Manchester city council and its partners carried out sense

of Place work across the city region as part of the Manchester

community engagement strategy, .

sense of Place is defined as a feeling of belonging, an

affinity to an area that makes people want to stay. what creates

this belonging is hard to pin down. it’s the sights and sounds of

a place, the understanding of the community and a connection

to their environment. improving understanding of this sense

of Place meant that the council could engage and interact with

communities more effectively – looking at the city in a different

way and examining the best ways of working.

there are proposals to create three major public art

commissions in key city centre sites to celebrate Manchester’s

radical history.

FIrst street ManChester

A massive vertical garden – Europe’s largest

living green wall – will be created as part

of a brand new development in the heart

of Manchester city centre: First Street.

The wall will enhance biodiversity at this

city centre site, using water collected from

the building to hydrate the vegetation.

A green roof, travel plans and excellent

public transport links and the use of ground

source heating and cooling will add to the

development’s sustainable credentials.

The 20 acre site will incorporate over

two million square feet of office space,

330,000 square feet of retail and leisure

space, bars, cafés, restaurants and hotels

all focused around a striking 18 metre wide,

300 metre long tree-lined boulevard.

The project will have some of the UK’s

most impressive public realm. The design

also features four public squares for people

to relax and enjoy, each with its own

distinct identity. The plans for First Street

demonstrate just how important the public

realm is and how it can make a difference

to the urban landscape.

The first phase is complete with the

redevelopment of the former BT building

into an 180,000 square foot, BREEAM

‘excellent’ office building. This key southern

gateway into Manchester City Centre is set

to be one of the most exciting evelopments

in the city.

st Peter’s sQuare

st Peter’s square is one of the most strategically important sites in

Manchester. the town hall and central library can both be found

here, the Metrolink runs through its heart and its location within

the corridor, which sees unprecedented levels of investment in and

around oxford road, sees all eyes on st Peter’s square.

the town hall complex is getting an overhaul and alongside

this, st Peter’s square is set to be remodelled as a key gateway to the

city and the corridor. world-class public realm will enhance the

square, creating a space befitting of the town hall, central library

and the redevelopment of elizabeth house.

the Metrolink that dominates much of the square will not

be removed, rather the way transport moves across st Peter’s square

will be addressed to create a logical, usable gateway. it will not just

be a place that people move through however. st Peter’s square will

become a quality visitor destination where people linger and visit,

with the central library, Peace gardens and town hall attracting

both residents and visitors to this new civic core.

left Neighbourhood typologies for the Manchester City Region, taken from AGMA’s Housing Strategy.

46/47—environMent

a resource in the wrong Place

rubbish. it’s an unavoidable fact of life. how you deal with that

rubbish, however, can make all the difference. Most of our waste

can now be recycled and transformed into another resource. it takes

a certain amount of innovation to see the potential of waste.

in 2009 a new construction programme worth £3 billion

will be launched to create five new biological waste treatment plants

for the Manchester city region, radically reducing landfill, boosting

recycling rates, creating up to 5,000 jobs and generating enough

electricity to power 10,000 homes through methane capture. Four

new composting sites are also being created and seventeen household

recycling centres will also be refurbished. led by greater Manchester

waste disposal authority the investment programme will give the

city world class waste management facilities and cut the proportion

of rubbish going to landfill from 60 per cent to 23 per cent. it’s all

perfectly sustainable and has the backing of Friends of the earth

as an environmentally safe way to deal with waste.

one of the largest waste Private Finance initiative (PFi)

projects in europe can also be found in Manchester. through a

£330 million investment, two anaerobic digesters are being built

to deal with residual solid waste. it gets really interesting when

you learn that following anaerobic digestion, the plants will produce

a compost like material for landfill remediation and biogas that,

through combined heat and power (chP), can be converted to

green electricity for export to the grid.

FaIrFIeld anaerOBIC dIgester

Food waste is big business. Or, at least,

it has the potential to be, as Fairfield

AD Ltd. has set about proving. Working

in partnership with technology providers,

the Bio Group, Fairfield is in the process

of setting up an Anaerobic Digester (AD)

plant in Stockport. The plant, scheduled

to open in 2009, will provide a radical

new way of dealing with biodegradable

waste and will be the first of its kind in

Manchester. Instead of going to landfill,

food waste will be delivered to the

Stockport plant and, through the process

of anaerobic digestion, converted into high

quality fertiliser. But that’s not all. As the

food breaks down, it creates methane

gas, and this is burnt to create electricity.

Although the plant is still at the planning

stage, Fairfield hopes to extend the scheme

from businesses to collecting such waste

from households. The end result of the

plant is, then, threefold: reducing waste

sent to landfill, generating renewable

energy and also creating an entirely new

product – fertiliser – that can be sold on.

Fairfield plants have the ability to process

around 20,000 tonnes of food waste per

annum, generating enough electricity to

power 500 homes.

Below, left Municipal waste arisings handled by GMWDA. Between 2004 and 2008 these decreased from 1.4m tonnes to 1.28 million tonnes.

Below, right Percentage of GMWDA municipal waste which is recycled. Between 2004 and 2008 the percentage increased from 12.5 to 34.9 per cent.

2005/20061.38m WASTE

2006/20071.34m WASTE

2007/20081.28m WASTE

2004/20051.4m WASTE

2005/200619.6% RECYCLED

2006/200729.7% RECYCLED

2007/200834.9% RECYCLED

2004/200512.5% RECYCLED

48/49—environMent

industrial evolution

climate change is a recognised threat to global prosperity, and

it is one of the biggest that Manchester will encounter in the coming

decades. Manchester faces particular challenges, as its economy

includes four sectors likely to be hit hard both by climate change

legislation and changes in consumer habits: air transport, road

transport, energy intensive manufacturing and textiles.

but if you can’t measure something, you can’t manage it. in

2006, the government-commissioned stern review on the economics

of climate change delivered a stark warning to the global economic

community: make significant, immediate investment into mitigating

the worst effects of climate change or face the long-term costs of

climate change later – at a cost that could be as high as 20 per cent

of global gdP.

a Mini-stern report is Manchester’s response to this warning.

the report assessed the potential impact of climate change legislation

on Manchester and the northwest and found the impact could be

profound. the report is constructive – with a potential £20 billion

economic gain that could be made if action is taken quickly and

effectively. it reviews the potential opportunities of climate change

legislation, such as new products and services based around ‘clean’

technologies, and identifies areas where mitigation is required to

safeguard the sub-regional economy.

in 2009, the call to action strategy was launched. it sets out

a new way of thinking about climate change, the role that Manchester

can play in leading the response to climate change and suggests a

programme of immediate action. the call to action goes out to

everyone in the city – from the largest business to each and every

individual. Manchester wants to take the lead in tackling climate

change. with the support of the population combined with several

of the uK’s Manchester-based leading research centres, including

the tyndall centre for climate change research, the Joule centre

for energy research, the centre of urban and regional ecology and

the centre for air transport and the environment, this could surely

be an achievable goal.

DOMESTIC 34%

ROAD TRANSPORT 29%

INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL, PUBLIC SECTOR 26%

LAND USE AND FORESTRY 11%

above Where is it coming from? Greater Manchester’s CO2 emissions by major sectors.

OMega

Aviation can bring economic and social

benefits, but all too often it is to the cost of

the environment. Climate change, local air

quality and noise have all been detrimentally

affected with our increasing desire to travel.

Omega offers impartial, innovative

insights into the environmental effects of

the aviation industry as well as potential

sustainability solutions. Led by Manchester

Metropolitan University, this partnership

project brings together the very best in the

field – experts in environmental and social

sciences, technology, business, economics,

environment, politics and global regulation.

Omega is independent of the aviation

industry and government so that its work is

transparent, objective and neutral. The risks

and opportunities posed by aviation are a

global issue and Omega has forged links

with partners across the world.

universal free wi-fi? of course we would; the digital age was made for Manchester. the free flow of ideas, information and of people? it must come to mark out our city as genuinely different. the diversity and richness of people and communities that will make Manchester a true microcosm of the world? this is the destination we wish to reach. the diverse city that you can get around and which offers the very best connectivity will be the city that has a future; this is Manchester.

a true MicrocosM oF the world

50/51—connectivity

ChInese arts Centre

An arts centre dedicated to the development

and promotion of contemporary Chinese

artists can be found in the centre of the

Northern Quarter.

Manchester has the second largest

Chinese community in the UK. The Chinese

Arts Centre is an active organisation,

offering advocacy, consultancy and artist

support schemes to encourage art to

flourish. Working in the interests of Chinese

artists, in Manchester and internationally,

the Chinese Arts Centre is unique in

Manchester as a gallery that focuses on

contemporary art relating to a particular

country or culture.

Rather than simply exploring cultural

heritage, the Chinese Arts Centre aims

to raise the profile of Chinese artists around

the world, and promotes exhibitions in house

and on tour, commissions, residencies and

publications. Its first major touring exhibition

in 1999, Representing The People, was the

first independent exhibition to show artists

from mainland China in the UK and toured to

four key national venues. It featured artists

such as Liu Xiao Dong who has since gone

on to achieve great international acclaim.

in the MiX

Manchester is a big city. it’s one of the uK’s major conurbations

and, as such, has a population to match – both in terms of numbers

and diversity. it’s these people that make Manchester what it is.

beyond the city limits, each sub-region has its own identity. bolton,

rochdale, oldham, bury and so on… but an overarching belonging

to this part of the country is obvious.

the word ‘diversity’ fits Manchester well. in 2008, there

were 166 languages spoken and people settle here from as far and

wide as Poland, Jamaica, india and china. it’s a multi-cultural

patchwork of people.

the boho britain creativity index rated Manchester as the

most creative city in the uK. the boho britain index was produced

using a similar research tool developed by richard Florida to assess

us cities. the belief is that the new ‘creative class’ is a key indicator

of a city’s economic health. in the boho britain survey, the uK’s 40

largest cities were ranked using three creativity indicators: ethnic

diversity, the proportion of gay residents, and the number of patent

applications per head. Manchester’s unique mix of ethnic diversity,

gay friendliness and technological innovation put it right at the top,

with leicester and london sharing second place.

the universities add to the vibrancy. there are over 70,000

students in the city alone. with the influx of new students every year,

the city is revitalised and seen with fresh eyes by a whole new set of

people. there are more overseas student applications to the university

of Manchester than any other uK university.

it’s this mix of old and new, of youth and experience that

make Manchester the city it is. these people are positive, innovative

and sometimes even headstrong, but they put Manchester on the

anthropological map.

Opposite, top Significant numbers of Manchester’s residents were born outside the city.

Opposite, bottom A large number of Manchester residents have a language other than English as their first.

left Most common languages spoken as a first language by Manchester’s residents.

52/53—connectivity

MARKETING MANCHESTER/VISIT MANCHESTER

NORTH AMERICA 5,687

SOUTH AMERICA 502 OCEANA 638

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 10,709

SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA 4,276

UNITED KINGDOM 334,771

EASTERN EUROPE 1,981

SOUTH ASIA 14,588

WESTERN EUROPE 5,861

MIDDLE EAST 3.353

FAR EAST 5,693

CENTRAL AND WEST AFRICA 2,149

NORTH AFRICA 1,604

ROMANIAN

RUSSIAN

SERBIAN

CROATIAN

BOSNIAN

SHONAKATCHI

SINHALA

SLOVAK

SOMALI

SPANISH

SPANISH

SPANISH

SWAHILI

SWEDISH

TAGALOG

FILIPINO

TIGRINYA

TURKISH

URDU

VIETNAMESEWOLOF

YORUBA

ZULU

AKAN

ALBANIAN AMHARIC

ARABIC

BEMBA

BENGALI

CARIBBEAN CREOLE

CHICHEWA

CANTONESE

MANDARIN

CHITRALI

CZECHDAR PERSIAN

FLEMISH

EBIRA

FARSI/PERSIAN

FRENCH

GA

GERMAN

GREEK

GUJARATI

HEBREW

HINDI

IGBO

ITALIAN

KOREAN

JAPANESE

KURDISH

LATVIAN

LINGALA

LITHUANIAN

LUGANDA

MALAY

INDONESIAN

MALAYALAMMARATHI

NDEBELE

PAHARI

PANJABI

PASHTO

PERSIAN/FARSI

POLISH

PORTUGUESE

FREE WIFITO 90%

digital inFrastructure

as a city, Manchester is connected, with a booming digital industry

and strong it and telecommunications infrastructure. the city’s

central uK location also means that all primary telecom carriers

and fibre networks converge through it, making it a principal access

point for the north of england.

having so famously developed the world’s first stored memory

computer, it is fitting that Manchester should now be at the forefront

of a new digital revolution, next generation access. Manchester has

prime mover advantage in having the uK’s only internet exchange

outside london, one of the biggest range of digital companies in

europe and some of the best creative talent in the world.

a new state-of-the-art digital infrastructure is planned

for the city-region that’s based on fibre to the premises (FttP) and

advanced wireless technology. it will make Manchester the most

connected, creative and innovative digital city in the country.

Manchester is set to pioneer FttP by becoming a test-bed

to see exactly what the new technology is capable of. as part of a

national government initiative called the ‘digital challenge’ the

scheme will also help to take broadband into the more disadvantaged

areas of Manchester, doubling the number of people who use on-line

services, and creating a huge new on-line market for businesses.

bringing forward public investment projects like this is just

the thing to protect existing jobs, create new ones, develop new skills

and to ensure that Manchester is ready for the eventual economic

upturn with one of the best digital infrastructures in the world.

the need to develop next generation access (nga) is

increasingly recognised as a critical infrastructure for the future

development of the city region. Manchester’s digital city project,

coordinated by the Manchester digital development agency (Mdda)

is the first stage of delivering the digital infrastructure element of

the Multi-area agreement. this stresses the city region’s commitment

to ensure that our economic growth is not constrained by a lack of

capacity in power, water, transport or digital infrastructure.

Manap

Manchester is home to the UK’s only

internet exchange outside London.

MaNap (Manchester Network Access

Point) was established in 1997 to enable

internet companies in the North and

Midlands to interconnect without the

massive cost of running circuits to London

and back. MaNap is now one of Europe’s

most mature internet exchanges and allows

Internet Service Providers, telecoms

companies, carriers, content and web

hosting providers to make financial savings

by directly connecting to each other.

wIFI CIty

In 2006 Manchester became the largest

free wireless internet hotspot in Europe

when The Cloud, a leading wireless

broadband network operator, launched

free WiFi internet access to ‘hotzones’

across the city. These hotzones turn

broadband-speed internet into radio signals

which can then be accessed by laptops,

PDAs, handheld games consoles and

WiFi-enabled mobile phones to allow

quick, free and easy internet access.

left Manchester Digital Development Agency aims to provide free WiFi to 90 per cent of the city centre

54/55—connectivity

TO EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW

TO GLASGOWAND EDINBURGH

TO LONDONAND THE SOUTH

CLEETHORPES

SOUTHPORTPRESTON

WINDEMERE

CARLISLE

BARROW-IN-FURNESS

CREWE

LEEDS

MIDDLESBROUGH

NEWCASTLE

HULL

SHEFFIELD

LIVERPOOL

CITY CENTRE

MANCHESTER AIRPORT

SCARBOROUGH

right Direct train lines from Manchester Airport, which in turn is just 15 minutes transfer from Manchester City Centre.

Manchester airPort

Manchester airport is a unique asset within the city region, and

the only true international gateway to the whole of the north of

england. it looks after 22 million passengers a year and contributes

over £3 billion to the uK economy. its role in the economic health

of the city region cannot be underestimated, and it’s because of

this that the threats to global aviation, and their likely impact on

Manchester airport, are being addressed through the region-wide

project air services development Fund. the Fund, overseen by

the northwest regional development agency, Manchester airport,

Marketing Manchester and Midas, is channelling significant

funding to develop and safeguard routes from Manchester airport

to north america and india.

the airport has spent millions of pounds redeveloping its

terminals, improving layout, signage, traffic flow, shops, catering

and security services. Following the completion of the new station

in 2004, as part of the airport’s new ground transport interchange,

the airport is now at the heart of the rail system, with links to a

wide range of destinations across the north of england as a whole,

supporting the airport as the major facility of its kind outside

the south east. beyond this, the ground transport strategy seeks

to secure the new Metrolink extension into the airport through

wythenshawe, providing a new spine of connectivity between the city

region’s two primary economic drivers – the airport and city centre –

through a major regeneration area. through a combination of these

major initiatives and improved internal activities the airport aims

to achieve a position of carbon neutral ground operations by 2015.

ManChester aIrpOrts grOUp

Manchester can lay claim to the country’s

largest UK-owned airport operator,

Manchester Airports Group (MAG). With

four airports – Manchester, East Midlands,

Bournemouth and Humberside – it currently

serves over 29 million passengers every

year. MAG is publicly owned by the ten

Greater Manchester local authorities.

Manchester Airport itself has a

massive impact on the region. It is home

to over 100 airlines offering direct flights

to 225 worldwide destinations; 22 million

passengers pass through every year; and

19,000 people are directly employed.

In 2008, Manchester Airport was

voted the Best UK Airport by the Travel

Weekly Globe Travel Awards. In 2007,

it won England’s Best Regional Airport in

the World Travel Awards. In previous years

Manchester Airport has scooped many

more industry awards, including the Gold

Environment Business Pledge Award for

outstanding environmental performance.

getting around

all great cities depend on an efficient transport infrastructure.

if the experience of a city is that of congested roads and an inefficient

public transport system, people will be left with largely negative

perceptions. and these people can be tourists, business people,

potential investors, decision-makers – the very people that can

drive the city’s economy.

as a centre of social and economic activity, Manchester city

centre relies heavily on mobility in and out of the area. increasing

numbers of people travelling to the city centre have led to a rise in

the numbers of apartments, bars, shops, restaurants and other leisure

activities. but an increase in cars moving in and out of the city can

also lead to congestion. the city’s local transport plan is not about

reducing the number of people coming to Manchester – the vibrancy

of the city depends on them. it is about making sure that people can

access the city centre quickly and efficiently, no matter how they

choose to travel.

the Metrolink is set to benefit from a £600 million project,

which will nearly double the size of the network. new Metrolink

lines are expected to take five million car journeys off local roads

every year, and to increase the number of trips passengers make

on the network each day from 55,000 to more than 90,000. the new

lines, which will open up new links to work and leisure for thousands

more people across the city region, will run to: MediacityuK,

to provide an important link to this new media hub; chorlton, to

serve the large concentration of commuters; oldham, with a new

interchange at the central Park business development; rochdale,

to support regeneration in the north east of the region and provide a

link to the Kingsway business Park; and droylsden, with a dedicated

service for sportcity and east Manchester. the new services are due

to be up and running between 2010 and 2012.

From light rail to heavy, a new and detailed study has been

launched by network rail into the ‘Manchester hub’, a plan to

explore how best to increase the number of trains that are able to

run through Manchester, enabling more and faster trains to operate

across the north, particularly key services between liverpool,

Manchester, leeds and newcastle. the increased capacity could

also potentially allow faster and more direct services to Manchester

airport, and more freight traffic to connect with northern ports.

the Manchester hub concept is built around the recent

white Paper which set out the government’s plans for increasing

capacity on the railway, including a 30 year strategy, and committed

£15bn of subsidy for the railway over five years. it identified leeds,

Manchester, sheffield and newcastle as cities that will benefit from

more carriages on urban services and also set out plans for faster

journey times on the transPennine route between liverpool,

Manchester and leeds, and pledged to improve reliability so that

92 per cent of trains will run on time.

vICtOrIa statIOn

This beautiful Edwardian station has been

the northern gateway to the city centre

since the 18th Century. Trains from places

such as Blackpool, Glasgow, Liverpool,

Sheffield and London brought visitors and

commuters to the heart of the city. Over

the years, the station’s age began to tell and

what was once an architectural masterpiece

is in real need of refurbishment.

A £300 million masterplan will bring

Manchester Victoria into the 21st Century.

Covering approximately 2.3 acres, a huge

mixed-use development will include office,

retail, hotel and residential accommodation,

together with station improvements. With

Chetham’s School of Music, Urbis and the

Co-operative, the area will form a coherent

whole with new public realm and buildings

of high architectural quality. No longer will

it be a place to pass through from train to

town, it will be a place to stop and explore.

pICCadIlly statIOn

Manchester’s Piccadilly station was recently

voted the nation’s favourite station amongst

passengers, with 92 per cent of travellers

saying they were satisfied with the overall

environment, in a survey conducted by the

consumer group Passenger Focus.

Piccadilly is one of three main stations

in Manchester and handles over 83,000

passengers and 1,000 train movements

every day and has been through a major

physical transformation in the last ten years.

Between 1998 and 2000, over £27 million

was spent modernising the station. The

money was invested in lighting, platform

surfaces, signage and construction work,

which won an award for the station’s

architects, BDP.

More recent improvements to the

Station have included new customer

information systems, high quality shopping

and eating, a larger ticket office and travel

centre, and improved pedestrian access.

56/57—connectivity

eMbracethe sPirit oF the age

what next for the original Modern city? as an industrial powerhouse we helped to shape and define the modern age. as an engine of ideas we unleashed radical reforms and scattered scientific revolutions across the globe. now Manchester is reinventing itself once more to become a sustainable, innovative and rewarding home to the people and businesses that will shape the 21st century. strong leadership will be critical; early and robust action to tackle climate change will be a signature; a passion for science, discovery and new thinking will mark us out. tough decisions will be made and enlightened solutions will be found. britain’s ‘other city’ is set once more to emerge from a time of change to embrace the spirit of the age.

58/59—direction

ASSOCIATION OF GREATER MANCHESTER AUTHORITIES

BUSINESS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

CITYCO

CORRIDOR MANCHESTER

GM CHAMBER

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE

MANCHESTER AIRPORT

MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL

MANCHESTER: KNOWLEDGE CAPITAL

MARKETING MANCHESTER/VISIT MANCHESTER

MIDAS

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

NEW EAST MANCHESTER

NORTHWEST REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS

HIGHER EDUCATION

PRIVATE SECTOR

60/61—direction

dynaMic leadershiP

Manchester is a city that embraces change. From models of industry

to culture, politics and sustainability, the city is not afraid to pioneer.

it has moved from a post-industrial, regional capital to a culturally

vibrant, internationally relevant and politically astute city region.

the reasons for this are many, but central to this shift

is a genuine sense of leadership across the city, where collaboration,

openness and strategic thinking have delivered some remarkable

projects that stand as shining examples of what can be achieved

when you work together towards a common goal.

Manchester is forging partnerships across the city region,

with new commissions being set up to direct and monitor specific

elements of a greater Manchester strategic Plan, including:

transport; housing and Planning; health inequalities; Public

Protection; economic development, employment and skills;

environmental Protection; and improvement and efficiency.

the Manchester way

a high profile and visible leadership is driving the city forward.

there are strategies designed to underpin Manchester’s position

within the global marketplace, to help make it as competitive as the

very best international cities. the focus on becoming a Knowledge

capital underpins a commitment to education and employment,

setting Manchester apart as a uniquely enterprising, creative

and industrious city, continuously striving to go further. as

Manchester continues to grow, it is essential that all its residents

are provided with the opportunity to reach their full potential,

that all communities feel secure and proud, and that a wealthier

population lives longer, happier and healthier lives.

gUIde tO the CIty regIOn

The ten boroughs that make up Greater

Manchester are: Bolton, Bury, Manchester,

Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport,

Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.

Manchester City Region is the extended

territory across which the core urban centre

draws people for work and many different

services, including health, leisure and retail.

The city region is defined as the ten Greater

Manchester local authorities plus East

Cheshire (formerly Local Authorities of

Macclesfield, Congleton and Crewe and

Nantwich) and Warrington.

AGMA (the Association of Greater

Manchester Authorities) is a partnership

between the ten local authorities within

the Greater Manchester area and fosters

co-operation on a number of issues, both

statutory and non-statutory, where there

is the possibility of improving service

delivery by working together. To further

increase this partnership working, AGMA

also includes unitary local authorities from

the surrounding areas of Blackburn with

Darwen, Blackpool and Warrington as

associate members.

Opposite Partnership working is a key feature of Manchester and this graphic shows just a small selection of partners working for a better future.

this world, this city

this city has always known that significance is what matters.

how daily revolutions scatter out across the globe. how works and

acts can improve the lives of citizens. how hope and feeling and belief

can be constantly found in a city that knows where it wants to go.

the mix of social, technological, environmental and economic

change presents fresh challenges and opportunities for the city but

these are marked by an enduring appetite to respond with new

ideas, partnerships and enterprises that make the city stronger and

ever-more relevant. Manchester has built a textile trade, fostered

radical social movements, embraced computing, invented dance

music, and fabricated graphene.

Manchester Forward marks out the city’s trajectory.

From business to education; culture to sustainability; innovation

to infrastructure, there is still work to be done but the very

strongest of foundations upon which to build.

the revelation is that Manchester is not an industrial

city in any conventional sense. it wasn’t then; it isn’t now. this

is a knowledge city – an ideopolis – that moves from invention

to application quickly and assuredly. industry is an outcome.

Manchester likes to get things done. Presence, and presence of

mind, is critical. how Manchester negotiates its role and purpose,

sometimes as britain’s other city but more often as its own centre of

international relevance and activity, is of the highest importance.

this is a city, a people and a place that will continue to

surprise, reward and challenge those who have the ambition and

appetite to shape the future.

62/63—outro

above Greater Manchester’s international friendship agreements and linkages.

coloPhon

Manchester Forward was possible thanks to the contributions,

intelligence and support of the following organisations.

cityco

the commission for economic development, employment and skills

corridor Manchester

gMPte

Manchester airport group

Manchester digital development agency

Manchester international Festival

Manchester: Knowledge capital

Manchester Metropolitan university

Midas

new east Manchester

northwest regional development agency

university of bolton

university of Manchester

university of salford

urbed

visit Manchester

Published by Manchester City Council

and Marketing Manchester.

Written and produced by Creative Concern.

Creative Consultant Peter Saville.

Photography by Jan Chlebik.