Cllr Bev Craig OBE talks about Manchester’s growth, building new homes and creating jobs and opportunities for Manchester people following Deloitte’s 2026 Crane Survey.
Cllr Craig said:
“We know that Manchester is one of the most important engines of growth in the UK and one of the fastest growing places in Europe. And it’s a marker of success that our city region’s economy has surpassed £100bn for the very first time.
“The annual crane survey is a useful tool in that it tells the story of our growth, it shows that we are building the right things that help our residents to thrive, and that there is high confidence in our city so investors deliver amazing developments here.
“However, the survey isn’t just about buildings. It also tells the story of how our city is building great lives for our residents.
“More than 8,000 homes are currently under construction in the city and more social rent, Council and genuinely affordable homes were built in the last year than at any time since the mid 90s. This is part of an ambitious housing strategy that is making sure every Manchester person has a safe and secure place to call home, in communities they are proud of.
“We are creating world-class jobs by investing in our emerging sectors – 458,000 sq ft of education, research and health service floorspace is under construction. Complemented by 1.26m sqft of new office space – the highest level since 2008. This is about making sure Manchester people have great jobs and, importantly, the right skills and training to take advantage of our growth.
“And that culture remains at the heart of Manchester. A city full of world-class venues, the global spotlight that was McrLive25 (and a little band from Burnage), and incredible events in the world of sport are helping footfall numbers to return to and exceed pre-pandemic levels.
“Despite the economic challenges we face, we are bucking the national trend and our economy has grown by a third since 2015. Manchester is rightly taking its place as an ambitious global city – and this is great for our residents, for our region and for the UK.”
Read Manchester Crane Survey 2026 in full