Manctopia: Billion Pound Property Boom

Manchester is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK, with a population due to double in the next five years. But as glittering skyscrapers crowd the horizon, not everyone is a winner in this billion-pound boom town. Local millionaire Tim redevelops Manchester’s red-light district into a fashionable new residential quarter - but it isn’t without challenges. Tim is also chief fundraiser for the mayor’s homeless charity and organises a fundraising concert to raise money for the city’s night shelters. A few streets away from Tim’s developments, new arrival Helen has over a million pounds to spend on a penthouse. Helen has moved into the city for the first time after her divorce and needs plenty of room for her collection of designer clothing. As the city centre booms, on its edges there is another story. In Salford, single mum Christina is priced out of the area she grew up in and must find a new home for her and her two young children.

Local property developer Tim hits a million-pound problem in the mill he is converting into luxury apartments, while less than a mile away, Anne and her friends face losing their homes to a giant redevelopment scheme. The homeless support charity Lifeshare has operated out of the Victorian Charter Street Mission for over 30 years, but redevelopment means they have to move out. Charity boss Judith has the hard task of finding a new city-centre base to serve breakfasts and provide clothing to the city’s rough sleepers. While the charity is forced out, new businesses are relocating to Manchester every month. Julian and Danielle have moved down from Glasgow to work in IT. They are in a brand new, rental-only apartment skyscraper and are looking to buy a home of their own.

In Manchester city centre, the West Tower is the latest skyscraper to open to the booming rental market. General manager Matt has over 300 apartments to rent out and starts off with free yoga classes in the penthouse to raise the tower’s profile. But as towers rise on the skyline, Salford mayor Paul Dennett needs to find a way to build more affordable housing in the city. Homeless people and low-income earners are often forced into shelters or temporary accommodation as the city’s affordable housing stock falls short.

At the West Tower in Manchester, interior designer Sarah is busy decorating the last of the four penthouse suites for a millionaire client. Sarah has six weeks and thousands of pounds to transform the empty penthouse, ordering bespoke furniture to fill the huge space on the 44th floor. Just a few miles away on the edge of the city centre, there is a huge new redevelopment scheme planned. The Northern Gateway hopes to bring nearly 15,000 new properties to the north of the city, but some locals are worried what it could mean for them as their homes are being proposed for demolition. At a consultation event, Anne and Donna learn a tower block is proposed near their homes. For Donna, the clock is ticking. Her elderly father is bed-bound and desperate to know how long they will be able to live in their family home.