Manchester Location Guide - Frater Property Partners

Invest in Manchester

Last reviewed: June 2026, against ONS, Land Registry and Savills data

Manchester is the UK’s largest city economy outside London, with a £100bn economy and a population of over 3 million. Savills’ most recent forecast (June 2026) puts North West house price growth at 25.0% over the five years to 2030 — among the joint-highest of any UK region. Combined with major regeneration including a £7bn+ Old Trafford scheme and the Victoria North new town, Manchester remains one of the strongest fundamentals-driven cases for UK property investment.

Manchester's Economy & Population

Greater Manchester – the UK’s second most populated urban region. It is made up of 10 metropolitan boroughs with a combined population of over 3 million.
Largest city economy outside London, with a GVA (Gross Value Added) as of late 2025 at £100 billion+, having just crossed that mark for the first time.

Projected to grow by 36% by 2035, driven by business expansion and infrastructure development.
Over 540,000 people reside in the Manchester city area with the city centre population projected to grow significantly.

Regeneration & Institutional Investment

There are several investment schemes ongoing within Manchester, transforming areas around the city and Greater Manchester

Manchester’s £10bn+ regeneration projects are transforming the city into a world-class destination

- Old Trafford Regeneration is introducing 370-acre area, 15,000 new homes, 48,000 new jobs locally and over 90,000 nationally, adding £7bn+ per year to the UK economy.
- Victoria North: one of the UK’s largest and most ambitious regeneration projects, aiming to deliver 15,000 homes and grow the population by 40,000 over the next 10–20 years
- Trafford Waters £1.6 -£2bn regeneration creating 3,000 homes and 800,000 sq ft of commercial space.

Connectivity & Transport

Manchester boasts exceptional connectivity, making it easily accessible locally, throughout the UK, and internationally.

Manchester is a major transport hub, with the UK’s third busiest airport offering direct flights to 200 global destinations—making it a key gateway for both business and leisure travel.
Manchester Piccadilly, the city’s main rail station, provides fast, direct links to major cities including London, Liverpool, and Leeds.
The surrounding motorway network—anchored by the M60 ring road—connects the city to the M6, M62, M56, and beyond.
Manchester’s Metrolink carried a record 46 million passenger journeys in 2024/25 across 99 stops. A new c. £1.6 billion operating contract is being procured for 2027, backed by c. £2.5 billion in devolved government funding for further extensions to Stockport, Bury, Oldham and beyond through 2032.
These extensive transport links ensure Manchester remains highly accessible and well-positioned for future growth.

Employment

Manchester has some of the best employment opportunities across the country attracting professionals and families to the region for a variety of opportunities.

Around 80% of the UK FTSE 100 companies now have a presence in Manchester, with major players such as the BBC, Amazon, Aviva, Barclays, and Siemens establishing significant operations in the city.
Significant sectors in Manchester include Financial and professional services, digital and creative industries & retail and hospitality.
Siemens: UK headquarters in Didsbury with over 13,000 employees based there.
BBC: Located in Media City, employing around 4,000 staff on site after the regeneration there.
Co-op: Head office in Manchester City Centre employing over 4,000 employees there alone.

Universities & Graduate Retention

4 Major Universities: University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan, Salford University, and Bolton University.
Over 100,000 students – one of the UK’s largest student populations.
Graduate Retention: A recent (April 2026) Centre for Cities / Times Higher Education report states Greater Manchester retains 67% of graduates
High demand for quality accommodation and young professional housing in city centre locations.

Lifestyle & Amenities

Thriving city life: Bars, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.
Music & Culture: Birthplace of Oasis & The Smiths, plus venues like AO Arena.
Sporting Hub: Manchester United & Manchester City, National Football Museum.
Quality of life makes Manchester attractive for professionals and families.

Previous Growth & Performance

The latest ONS data (May 2026) shows Manchester’s average monthly private rent at £1,352, up 3.2% year-on-year from £1,310 in May 2025. The Zoopla Rental Market Report indicated slightly slower growth, but Manchester remained in the top 6 cities for rental growth in the last 12 months.
Over the past few years, the city has consistently outperformed the national average for capital growth and out performed other UK regions in terms of property price increases – UK House Price Index.

Forecasts for Growth

Forecasts indicate that the North West’s property prices are expected to rise by 25% from 2026-2030 even with no growth in 2026 due to global uncertainty.
Manchester’s rental market remains robust, Knight Knox’s 2026 guide points to around 4% rental growth in 2026.

Discuss Manchester investment property with one of the team

Is Manchester a good place to invest in property in 2026?
Manchester combines a £100bn economy, a population of over 3 million, and one of the strongest regional growth forecasts in the UK. Savills forecasts 25.0% house price growth across the North West over the five years to 2030.

What is the rental market like in Manchester?
As of May 2026, the average monthly private rent in Manchester was £1,352, up 3.2% year-on-year (ONS). Growth has cooled from the double-digit rises seen in 2024-25 but remains positive.

What regeneration is happening in Manchester?
Major schemes include Old Trafford Regeneration (15,000 homes, 48,000+ local jobs, £7bn+ added to the UK economy per year) and Victoria North (15,000 homes, growing the population by 40,000).

Is Manchester well connected for commuters and investors?
Yes. Manchester Airport is the UK’s third-busiest, the Metrolink tram network carried a record 46 million passenger journeys in 2024/25, and the city is the largest financial and professional services hub outside London.