Event Summary
Greater Manchester Development Update 2025 | Summary + photos
A sell-out crowd at Bridgewater Hall was treated to the thoughts of property and development specialists from across Greater Manchester on the battles being fought in the city region.
The event was organised by Place North West and sponsored by JMW, Onward Homes, Mansell Building Solutions, NorDan, and Euan Kellie Property Solutions. Regeneration Brainery is Place’s charity partner.
Expert speakers
Stephen Young, chief executive, Salford City Council
Joe Rigby, managing director of the North, CBRE
Andrew McIntosh, director of sustainable growth and infrastructure, GMCA
Georgina Lynch, managing director, PJ Livesey
Catherine Chilvers, managing director, Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation
Richard Roe, corporate director for place, Trafford Council
Paul Lakin, executive director for place, Bury Council
Martyn Evans, creative director, Landsec
Jamie Hills, development director, Ask Real Estate
Lee Treanor, director, HBD
Stephanie Mullenger, director of property, Salford City Council
Cllr Gavin White, executive member for housing and development, Manchester City Council
Salford City Council chief executive Stephen Young explains what inclusive growth means to him. Credit: PNW
State of the Market
- Viability remains a big challenge for developers, affecting delivery of ambitious plans
- Delays in obtaining Building Safety Regulator approval are hampering development and growth and could undermine Manchester’s ambitious housing targets
- A lack of funding and cash flow issues are threatening the survival of SME developers, according to PJ Livesey’s Lynch
- Some recent large investment deals have fallen through at the last minute due to changes in sentiment and uncertainty
- Office rents could rise to as much as £60/sq ft in Manchester over the coming years, CBRE’s Rigby said.
- Panellists agreed that rising costs and increasing regulation are making it increasingly difficult to make projects stack up.
Public sector focus
- The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is supporting the 10 GM boroughs on delivering a £10bn pipeline of projects aimed at driving growth, said the GMCA’s Andrew McIntosh
- The importance of incorporating heritage and the views of local communities into development plans is not always prioritised in the way it should be
- The relationship between Manchester city centre and other GM towns is one that needs to be constantly monitored to ensure it remains mutually beneficial
- The next wave of regeneration in Stockport, powered by the Mayoral Development Corporation, could deliver a new model of dense urban living, according to Chilvers.
- Bury Council’s land ownership position in the town centre means it is well-placed to deliver change, Lakin said
- Councils across the city region are actively involved in the government’s Fair Funding consultation and pushing for a settlement that goes some way to clawing back the cuts made to local authority budgets over recent years.
“One of our aspirations, not just the aspirations of Salford City Council, but surely the aspirations of everyone in this room and everyone involved in this industry, is about building something that creates a real legacy,” said Salford City Council chief executive Stephen Young.
“It’s about challenging ourselves as local authorities or challenging ourselves as developers to ensure that we’re building something that’s going to stand the test of time, and will add benefit to a place in 20, 30, years, not just in the next few years.”
Early days – Stephen Young on becoming Salford City Council’s new chief executive
- Young described his first three days as Salford City Council CEO as “challenging and interesting”
- He said he joined the city council from Halton because of the city’s exciting projects and its inclusive growth approach
- He added that he was happy to be back in GM having previously worked at Bolton and Oldham councils, after watching the city region go from strength to strength over recent years.
Click any image to launch gallery
Up next
Thursday 18 September – Building Safety Act: what have we learned and what comes next?
Thursday 2 October – Revitalising our Town and City Centres
Tuesday 7 October – Sustainability in Practice
Will be interesting to see how all the development corporations springing up in GM get on. Some are more attractive investable propositions than others and they won’t all succeed.
By Anonymous