Manchester Location Guide - Frater Property Partners

Invest in Manchester

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 2.8 million.
Largest city economy outside London, with a GVA (Gross Value Added) of over £78 billion.

Projected to grow by 45% by 2035, driven by business expansion and infrastructure development.
Over 530,300 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 introducing £4bn worth of investment and could create up to 40,000 jobs, increasing demand for homes in the area and driving up capital values.
- 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 two decades.
- Trafford Waters £1bn regeneration creating 3,000 homes and 930,000 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 over 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.
The city’s Metrolink tram system is one of the largest in the UK, serving over 34 million passengers a year. Following a £1.5 billion expansion, the 93-stop Metrolink network delivers greater capacity and frequency across the region.
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: Around 51% of graduates stay in Manchester for employment, boosting rental demand.
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

Rental growth within the last 5 years has been extremely strong with Office For National Statistics (ONS) showing the average monthly private rent in Manchester was £1,307 in February 2025. This was an increase from £1,186 in February 2024, a 10.2% rise. The Zoopla Rental Market Report indicated slightly slower growth, but Manchester remained comfortably in the top 10 cities for growth in the last year.
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 29.4% between 2025 and 2029, driven by Manchester demonstrating the city’s robust investment potential.
Manchester’s rental market remains robust, with rental values projected to increase by 5-7% annually through 2025. This growth is supported by high demand, limited supply, and elevated tenant retention rates.