2026 is the year that everyone discovered the ‘economic miracle’ that is happening in Manchester, or should we say the ‘capital of the north’ with its own Number 10. It started with an article in Bloomberg in January where Jacob Reid wrote that hype about the city is not just ‘cocky Mancunians talking bullshit’ but rather the story of an economy that is growing at twice the national rate and that has attracted the highest level of foreign inward investment of any city outside London. Whatever you might think about tall buildings, Manchester’s skyline is the most visible symbol of this transformation. It now has 26 buildings over 30 storeys and 10 over 50 storeys and is set to become the fourth tallest city in Europe.
Manchesterism: Reflections on URBED’s 30 years in Manchester
Summary:
Manchester’s urban renaissance, driven by a blend of municipal socialism, laissez-faire planning and private capital, stands as a remarkable economic and demographic turnaround. URBED, intimately involved over three decades, highlights how reversing suburban flight by creating walkable, dense neighbourhoods like Hulme catalysed growth. The introduction of the Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood model fostered economic vibrancy by attracting young professionals back to the city. Despite occasional friction with local authorities, URBED’s work underpinned Greater Manchester’s transformation into a ‘City of Towns’, buoyed by the Metrolink tram network and sustained by integrated spatial planning.
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