Manchester, The Centripetal City: The Lessons Of Property-Led Regeneration For Core Cities And Their Proximal Towns In The Northern Powerhouse
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Management School
Abstract
The sight of skyscrapers on Manchester's skyline contrasts with the boarded-up shops of towns nearby. This raises questions about the ability of Manchester's city-regional model to create inclusive, accountable, sustainable growth and thus its suitability as a blueprint for urban regeneration within the Northern Powerhouse area.
This project will investigate whether the ideas which underpin the Manchester model of regional development and the Northern Powerhouse actually work. Those ideas claim that the growth of flat building in city centres creates 'agglomeration' benefits - that is, that a growing concentration of skilled people, finance and technology in the same city creates productivity improvements which spill out into surrounding areas. We will do this through an in-depth financial and spatial analysis of investment in Manchester's 'Build To Rent' (BTR) sector - a special property class common in Manchester that is built specifically for renters.
We will consider whether Manchester's 'property-led regeneration' model of attracting private investment into BTR to boost growth might in fact have the opposite effect. Competition for land may push up rents and create opportunities for financial extraction for large global companies, taking money away from local economies. It may also encourage speculation which encourages companies to take on more debt, introducing new risks in a market downturn. It may also add to the costs of infrastructure development, creating inefficiencies. And it may pull in investment, technology and skills from surrounding towns into central areas in ways that harm those towns. We refer to these problems as problems of the 'centripetal city'. This metaphor is designed to capture the vortex-like motion whereby skills and other resources are pulled to the centre of Manchester, the benefits of which are funnelled to global investors. This contrasts with the 'centrifugal' metaphor that underpins property-led, agglomerative regeneration strategies - that productivity gains in the city centre are thrown out into the regions.
In terms of methods, we bring together expertise in accounting and economic geography to investigate the financial and spatial relations and outcomes of BTR construction, from the way it is marketed, to the way it is constructed to its financial and spatial effects.
Our project will be broken down into four themes. Our first theme will examine how Manchester sells itself as a city and its BTR property assets to global investors, because the visions and commitments set out in those deals shapes the process of urban regeneration in Greater Manchester. We will also examine the role of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in the marketing of those assets.
Our second theme will use detailed accounting analysis to examine how those assets are constructed, which companies are involved in their construction and the way money flows through those organisations. This will tell us about the extent of extraction in BTR. It will also tell us about the balance of on- and off-shore companies in this sector, thus providing a transparency and accountability aspect. We will also examine how financially stable BTR companies and their housing assets are, providing an economic sustainability lens for our BTR research.
Our third theme will examine the effects of Manchester's regeneration model at different spatial scales. This will draw out whether centrifugal or centripetal forces (or some combination of the two) are at work in Greater Manchester. We will use a variety of socio-economic indicators (business mortality rate, shop footfall, inward migration etc) to examine the presence or otherwise of centripetal forces.
Our fourth theme is our impact theme. This theme will draw on our findings to develop engagement strategies which aim to build civil society resistance to extractive forms of development which undermine inclusive, accountable and sustainable development.
This project will investigate whether the ideas which underpin the Manchester model of regional development and the Northern Powerhouse actually work. Those ideas claim that the growth of flat building in city centres creates 'agglomeration' benefits - that is, that a growing concentration of skilled people, finance and technology in the same city creates productivity improvements which spill out into surrounding areas. We will do this through an in-depth financial and spatial analysis of investment in Manchester's 'Build To Rent' (BTR) sector - a special property class common in Manchester that is built specifically for renters.
We will consider whether Manchester's 'property-led regeneration' model of attracting private investment into BTR to boost growth might in fact have the opposite effect. Competition for land may push up rents and create opportunities for financial extraction for large global companies, taking money away from local economies. It may also encourage speculation which encourages companies to take on more debt, introducing new risks in a market downturn. It may also add to the costs of infrastructure development, creating inefficiencies. And it may pull in investment, technology and skills from surrounding towns into central areas in ways that harm those towns. We refer to these problems as problems of the 'centripetal city'. This metaphor is designed to capture the vortex-like motion whereby skills and other resources are pulled to the centre of Manchester, the benefits of which are funnelled to global investors. This contrasts with the 'centrifugal' metaphor that underpins property-led, agglomerative regeneration strategies - that productivity gains in the city centre are thrown out into the regions.
In terms of methods, we bring together expertise in accounting and economic geography to investigate the financial and spatial relations and outcomes of BTR construction, from the way it is marketed, to the way it is constructed to its financial and spatial effects.
Our project will be broken down into four themes. Our first theme will examine how Manchester sells itself as a city and its BTR property assets to global investors, because the visions and commitments set out in those deals shapes the process of urban regeneration in Greater Manchester. We will also examine the role of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in the marketing of those assets.
Our second theme will use detailed accounting analysis to examine how those assets are constructed, which companies are involved in their construction and the way money flows through those organisations. This will tell us about the extent of extraction in BTR. It will also tell us about the balance of on- and off-shore companies in this sector, thus providing a transparency and accountability aspect. We will also examine how financially stable BTR companies and their housing assets are, providing an economic sustainability lens for our BTR research.
Our third theme will examine the effects of Manchester's regeneration model at different spatial scales. This will draw out whether centrifugal or centripetal forces (or some combination of the two) are at work in Greater Manchester. We will use a variety of socio-economic indicators (business mortality rate, shop footfall, inward migration etc) to examine the presence or otherwise of centripetal forces.
Our fourth theme is our impact theme. This theme will draw on our findings to develop engagement strategies which aim to build civil society resistance to extractive forms of development which undermine inclusive, accountable and sustainable development.
Publications
Goulding R
(2022)
Manchester Offshored: A Public Interest Report on the Manchester Life Partnership Between Manchester City Council and The Abu Dhabi United Group
in SSRN Electronic Journal
Goulding R
(2023)
From homes to assets: Transcalar territorial networks and the financialization of build to rent in Greater Manchester
in Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space
Hall S
(2023)
The changing spatial arrangements of global finance: Financial, social and legal infrastructures
in Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space
| Description | What were the most significant achievements from the award? 1. Our 'Manchester Offshored' report shone a light on the controversial relationship between Manchester City Council and Abu Dhabi United Group in a way that captured media and public attention. It featured a forensic analysis of a joint venture real estate development between the two parties, attracting attention across the national and international press. It will be featured in a forthcoming BBC2 documentary and an ARD German TV report. It raises many complex questions about how few options councils have to stimulate urban regeneration initiatives due to the highly centralised way tax raising and spending powers are organised in the UK. But it also raises questions about local transparency and accountability issues which surround this joint venture. It highlights the tension between a council that wants to regenerate the city very quickly, with only a set of constrained choices available to it, and the kind of deals it enters into as a consequence. 2. We also found the extraordinary growth of Build to Rent developments within the city regional centre. Our self built database shows that new build to rent (BTR) developments have outpaced 'build to sell' (BTS) units by almost two to one in Manchester's city-regional centre since 2012. We also found stronger international investment in BTR relative to BTS, illustrating BTR's more globalised and financialised form. We highlight the important role of national and local state subsidies and local authority joint ventures in creating a conducive environment for BTR investment in Manchester. But we also show that the different return strategies that can be applied to BTR assets widens its investment appeal, broadening and deepening housing financialization. To what extent were the award objectives met? It is too early to say because we still have one year remaining. How might the findings be taken forward and by whom? We are in conversation with local authority actors about our findings and their implications. We are working on a fully costed alternative model with the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) |
| Exploitation Route | Conceptually, the accounting focus highlights processes of extraction and allows us to trace 'where the money goes'. This analysis of inter-organisational financial flows differs slightly from the traditional focus on markets in Economics. So this is a different way of understanding economic processes in urban regeneration and their outcomes. It is a tonic to the traditional agglomeration economic approach which emphasises the importance of drawing capital in, to facilitate property-led development, which crowds in skills, creates a market for talent, with benign implications for productivity and wealth distribution. An accounting lens focuses on zero-sum relations: the capital inflows come with extractive rights to the assets; and that the potential for those investments to produce positive externalities depends on the nature of those rights and how much money circulates locally as a consequence. Rights which confer too great an extractive power, or take too much income out of the local area, may inhibit economic development in the long run. |
| Sectors | Construction,Education,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
| Description | Our Manchester Offshored report and the database on BTR we have constructed has already changed the perceptions of some local authority actors we have talked to. We have been asked if similar databases could be built for their authority and what alternatives there might be. Similarly local housing activists have asked us to show them how to acquire the data which would enable them to build similar databases in their area. We believe this demand for an alternative model at the upper level of some authorities - built around the principles of community wealth building - combined with knowledgeable and informed pressure from below, in a context where the media and public interest arenas are asking probing questions about the efficacy and social benefits of property-led agglomeration as a one-size-fits-all model, could lead to material and measurable impacts in the next 2-3 years. We are working with the Centre for Local Economic Strategies on a fully costed alternative model of urban regeneration. And we hope that is as succesfull at changing practice as their 'Preston Model'. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Construction,Education,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Faculty Research Stimulation Funding |
| Amount | £11,750 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Title | Dataset on Build To Rent Developments, Developers, Financiers and Property Managers in Manchester |
| Description | This database was built by Jon Silver and Richard Goulding. It is a complete dataset of all build-to-rent developments in the central/core region of Greater Manchester. It draws on a number of different sources - planning documents, land registry data, property industry journals and other publicly available housing data. it contains data on the following variables: Planning Date Planning Reference Name of development Area Post-code Total Resi Units Tenure Model Tenure Change Status Owner Funder Deliverer Significant Institutional owners Manager Other companies Total Resi Units For sale For rent Total market Social rent Affordable rent Shared ownership Other intermediate Total affordable Est. affordable if 20% Other (student/hotel) Total units (all) Offsite s106 housing contributions Other s106 contributions Source Offshore Involvement Non-UK actors Country Role of non-UK actos Public Loan (value) Type of public loan Public Land Public Land Registry Reference Gross Development value Cost of Development Profit Local plan benchmark land value 2009 Est. EUV+ Benchmark Land Value Residual Land Value Est. Profit on Cost Est. Profit on GDV Plot size (acres) Est. Benchmark Land Cost per Acre Est. Residual Land Cost per Acre Starting Price for 1 bed Starting price for 2 bed Source Average Rental 1-bed Average Rental 2-bed Average Rental 3-bed Evidence of marketed abroad Source Est. Council tax *(based on 1-bed) Notes |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset employs novel methods for locating and organising property development data which other researchers and housing activists are now emulating. |
| Title | Demographic benchmarking data for Manchester Centre, Bolton and Wigan |
| Description | This database contains data on area demographics, housing, travel etc for Manchester city centre, Bolton and Wigan. It contains the following variables: BUASDCD CFT_PLACE DEMOG_popn2002 AGE_over65pct_2002 DEMOG_popn2018 AGE_over65pct_2018 POPN_GROWTH0218 EMPLOY_workpopn01 EMPLOY_industry01pct EMPLOY_workpopn11 EMPLOY_industry11pct HOUSING_PricesSep2019 HOUSING_PriceChg_9519pct chgHPmed_1119 chgHPpct_1119 HOUSING_Homeowners HOUSING_Socialrenters HOUSING_Privaterenters HOUSING_Other EDUC_noquals EDUC_nodegree EDUC_students11pct CLASS_AB CLASS_C1 CLASS_C2 CLASS_DE TRAVEL_TimeEmpl_popn TRAVEL_TimeEmpl_ptwalk TRAVEL_TimeEmpl_car TRAVEL_TimeTown_ptwalk TRAVEL_TimeTown_car TRAVEL_TimeTrain_ptwalk TRAVEL_TimeTrain_car IMD2019 IMD2019_Income IMD2019_Employment IMD2019_Health IMD2019_Education IMD2019_AccesstoServices IMD2019_Housing IMD2019_CommunitySafety IMD2019_PhysicalEnvironment IMD2019_Crime IMD2019_HousingServices IMD2019_LivingEnvironment IMD2019_IncomeChildren IMD2019_IncomeOlderPeople chgIMD_1019 chgIMD_Income_1019 chgIMD_Emplt_1019 chgIMD_Edu_1019 chgIMD_Health_1019 chgIMD_Crime_1019 chgGDP_LA chgGDPpct_LA PUBS_Chg0118 PASSPORTS_None PAY_Chg1219_median PAY_Chg1219_mean AUTOMATION_Risk17 ASYLUM_per10000 POPULATION_Churn1819 DRUGS_Deaths1618_per100000 MIGRATION_Net1424_International MIGRATION_Net1424_WithinUK PUBS_ResidentsPerPub PUBS_PubsPerPerson ARTS_Attendance17 CITY_Edge CITY_Outer CITY_Neighbours IDENTITY_British IDENTITY_English IDENTITY_BritishEnglish IDENTITY_EU CFT_Type1 CFT_Type2 TYPE_COASTAL TYPE_RAILWAYTOWN TYPE_OLDTOWN TYPE_LARGEWOSTATION TYPE_SMALLWCAMPUS TYPE_SEASIDE TYPE_PORTTOWN TYPE_MILLTOWN TYPE_LARGEWOUNI TYPE_PLACESWCITYSTATUS TYPE_COUNTYTOWN TYPE_BARRACKTOWN ctry11cd |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This database will form the basis of our analysis of 'centripetal' and 'centrifugal' forces in the three aforementioned areas. |
| Title | Interactive Manchester Build To Rent Accounting Database |
| Description | This database provides accounting data on 61 firms involved in Build To Rent activities in the Manchester area (development, construction, financing, management). It provides data on the following variables: FIRMNAME FIRM ID SIC TIME Accounts on time Type of Accounts REVENUE GROSS PROFIT EBIT NET INTEREST PAYABLE EBT NET INCOME DEBTORS / RECEIVABLES CASH IN HAND TTL CURRENT ASSETS INVESTMENTS FIXED ASSETS/PPE TOTAL NON-CURENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES: CREDITORS (BANK LOANS) NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES: CREDITORS (BANK LOANS) TTL LIABILITIES TTL EQUITY PAID-IN CAPITAL RETAINED EARNINGS REVALUATION RESERVES WAGES & SALARIES TTL LABOUR COSTS FULL ACCOUNTS (1) MICRO ACCOUNTS (0) DISCLOSURE ON TIME (1) OR LATER (0) REVENUES DISCLOSED (1) REVENUES WERE NOT DISCLOSED (0) NET INC DISCLOSED (1) NET INC WERE NOT DISCLOSED (0) TTL ASSETS DISCLOSED (1) TTL ASSETS WERE NOT DISCLOSED (0) TTL LIABILITIES DISCLOSED (1) TTL LIABILITIES WERE NOT DISCLOSED (0) TTL EQUITY DISCLOSED (1) TTL EQUITY WERE NOT DISCLOSED (0) W&S REPORTED (1) W&S WERE NOT DISCLOSED (0) NIM +VE (1) NIM -VE (0) EQUITY +VE (1) EQUITY -VE (0) SUM |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The database provides insights on two key issues: i) transparency - ie whether they file full accounts (P&L plus balance sheet with full disclosure in each), whether they publish accounts on time, whether accounts are available for every year etc and ii) stability - whether the companies operate with negative net assets, profit margins, leverage ratios etc. |
| Description | Open University Collaboration |
| Organisation | Open University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We constructed a virtually complete database of all BtR developments in the Manchester City Regional Centre, which contained the following information: "Planning Date Planning Reference Name of development Area Post-code Total resi units Tenure Tenure Notes Status Q1 2021 Owner Funder Deliverer Significant Institutional Owners Manager Other companies Total Resi Units For sale For rent Total market Social rent Affordable rent Shared ownership Other intermediate Total affordable Est. affordable if 20% Other (student/hotel) Total units (all) Offsite s106 housing contributions Other s106 contributions Total s106 Source Offshore Involvement Overseas finance Non-UK actors Country Role of non-UK actos Public Loan (value) Type of public loan Public Land Public Land Registry Reference Gross Development value Cost of Development Profit Local plan benchmark land value 2009 Est. EUV+ Benchmark Land Value Residual Land Value Est. Profit on Cost Est. Profit on GDV Plot size (acres) Est. Benchmark Land Cost per Acre Est. Residual Land Cost per Acre Starting Price for 1 bed Starting price for 2 bed Source Average Rental 1-bed Average Rental 2-bed Average Rental 3-bed BE Source Est. Council tax *(based on 1-bed)" This is open access and available on the Centripetal Cities Website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/crafic/research/manchester-centripetal-city We were approached by Colin Lorne of the Geography Department at the Open University who asked if he could use this data to develop content-maps with his student cohort. This data, therefore, was used as a teaching tool at the Open University in the training of students in the use of mapping software, but also understanding processes of housing financialization in an urban centre like Manchester. Colin then personally used our data to develop interactive maps of the area, which we also now host on the Centripetal Cities website. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Colin Lorne used our database on BtR development in the Manchester City Regional Centre in teaching and training at the Open University, including the practical use of mapping software and, from a more theoretical perspective, processes of urban financialization. He then, in conversation with us and using our database again, built some interactive maps which we now host on the Centripetal Cities website. |
| Impact | 1. Greater Manchester Core Developments Database 2. Interactive 'Housing Beyond Borders' Map 3. Colin Lorne Explanation of the map all are available at the URL above. The collaboration involves an interdisciplinary relation between Accounting, Urban Studies and Geography. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Adam Leaver & Richard Goulding interview with German TV broadcaster ARD |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | We were approached by German public broadcaster ARD to be interviewed as part of their UK reporting. They will be filming/interviewing us this week. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Adam Leaver interview with the BBC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed for the BBC news website about the Manchester Offshored report. Title 'Manchester City Council sold public land too cheaply, report claims' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-62266116 |
| Description | BBC2 TV Documentary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | We were approached by the BBC to take part in a two part documentary (1hr each episode) on housing policy as a result of our 'Manchester Offshored' report. The interviews were extensive (3 hours for Adam Leaver, Jon Silver will also be interviewed). It is likely that the report will feature prominently in the documentary |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Blog - Manchester's new 'council' housing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Non-academic publication analysing Manchester's local housing development company for the Greater Manchester Housing Action website |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://www.gmhousingaction.com/council-housing-questions/ |
| Description | Briefing discussion with Shelter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Briefing on housing crisis to Shelter staff and volunteers to aid their community organising strategy |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Briefing on Manchester's housing crisis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with members of GMTU to discuss housing development in central Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Community Voice in Planning |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Key audience: Residents and community groups belonging to the Community Savers Network Activity: Capacity building workshop with residential community groups around planning and affordable housing policy, drawing on initial research to illustrate policy processes and housing outcomes in Manchester. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://communitysavers.net/2021/01/community-voice-in-planning/ |
| Description | Conversation article on Build to Rent |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Following on from our Environment & Planning A: Economy & Space article, we wrote an explainer for The Conversation which summarised out results and argument: 'The rise of corporate landlords: how they are swallowing city centres like Manchester one block of flats at a time' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-corporate-landlords-how-they-are-swallowing-city-centres-lik... |
| Description | Conversation article on land commissions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article for the Conversation published: 'The new enclosure: how land commissions can lead the fight against urban land-grabs' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/the-new-enclosure-how-land-commissions-can-lead-the-fight-against-urban-... |
| Description | Discussant on Paul Watt book tour (Estate Regeneration and its Discontents) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Richard was discussant for a meeting to discuss Paul Watt's recent book in Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Discussion with Aditya Chakrabortty, The Guardian |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Aditya is the media partner for our project. We liaised with him to discuss the best way of disseminating our work/what stories would work and what wouldn't for him. We produced a list of potential stories that have emerged from our preliminary work. It is likely some of these will begin to be rolled out in mid/late 2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Discussion with Jennifer Williams, Manchester Evening News (now Financial Times) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | We had a long phone discussion about the Manchester Life development, on which we have produced a draft report. Our strategy is to try to generate media impact for this work by engaging both notable local and national journalists. Jennifer Williams was, at that time, the star reporter for the Manchester Evening News. She expressed an interest in the report. She has now moved to the FT and is the Northern correspondent. We intend to send the report to her when our internal ethics panel has assessed our case study report. This should take no longer than one month. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Guardian article - opinion piece by Aditya Chakrabortty |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Aditya is the media partner for the project and a member of the Centripetal Cities board. We coordinated the release of our Manchester Offshored report with this opinion piece in The Guardian. By any measure it was a big success: it was the most read article online in the Guardian that day, which is highly unusual for a piece on a city outside London in the UK. Title: How a great English city sold itself to Abu Dhabi's elite - and not even for a good price |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/21/great-english-city-sold-abu-dhabis-elite-manch... |
| Description | Interview with Manchester Evening News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Niall Griffiths of the MEN on issues arising from GMHA blog on Manchester City Council's LHA |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Interview with Place North West |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | We were interviewed about the Centripetal Cities project - its aims and background assumptions. This was then summarised in the Place North West trade magazine |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/the-subplot-prs-not-btr-who-gets-levelled-up/ |
| Description | Lecture - Housing financialisation: New urban geographies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of research findings to UG students in Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Manchester Evening News article on land privatisation in Manchester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Newpapser coverage of land privatisation research in Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchesters-1-land-deals-luxury... |
| Description | Manchester Meteor article on land privatisation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Newpapser coverage of land privatisation research in Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://themeteor.org/2021/05/12/are-council-deals-with-developers-offering-best-value-research-pape... |
| Description | Manchester Mill interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Richard was interviewed for Manchester Mill on Manchester Offshored research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://manchestermill.co.uk/p/inside-the-manchester-hotel-booked?utm_source=%2Fsearch%2Frichard%252... |
| Description | Media interview on Manchester City Council's housing delivery company for Manchester Meteor |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Background discussion on implications of Manchester City Council's housing delivery company for affordability, ownership and tenure |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with Laudes Foundation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Laudes Foundation, Netherlands/Switzerland to discuss potential follow-on funding opportunities with regard to our work on the built environment in Manchester. We discussed the potential Scope 3 impact on lenders whose assets portfolios (80% property-based loans) are exposed to net zero related costs. The built environment accounts for roughly 30% of all carbon emissions. We discussed the possibility of putting together a project which looked at the balance sheet exposure of banks to these carbon risks, and whether these risks were incorporated into bad loan provisions and whether they were being properly audited. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Meeting with New Economics Foundation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Rebecca Winson to advise NEF on their development of a 5-year campaign on social housing, including engagement with policymakers and community groups |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with University of Brighton researchers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Development of financialisation research methodologies geared to general public, community groups, University of Brighton undergraduates.Meeting with Rebecca Searle of UoB to discuss potential for expanding Homes to Assets methodology beyond Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meetings with Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | We had three meetings with CLES in 2021 and further communication through email with regard to the impact component of the project. We have developed a plan for a co-produced publication which reimagines the Manchester Life development in Manchester constructed according to community wealth building principles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | NRC sports podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Richard was interviewed for Dutch newspaper podcast NRC on Manchester Life research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/05/20/eerst-de-voetbalclub-dan-de-stad-overnemen-a4125122 |
| Description | New York Times article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | 'Manchester Offshored' was covered in the New York Times: 'Report Questions Links Between Manchester, the City, and Manchester City' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/21/sports/soccer/manchester-life-manchester-city.html |
| Description | Open University collaboration |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Our contribution: Development of database building methods using previously unused sources Open University's contribution: Collaboration with Colin Lorne of the Open University to produce mapping tools generated from our dataset to trace offshore investment in central Manchester, to be released in APR 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation at Action on Empty Homes seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of research findings to seminar on empty homes in Greater Manchester/the North West |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seminar-on-vacancy-and-under-utilisation-of-housing-in-greater-manche... |
| Description | Presentation of research findings to independent researchers, community groups and audit practitioners |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Audience: Independent researchers, community groups, media, academics and audit practitioners Activity: Presentation of summary findings on local government joint ventures to roundtable of independent researchers focusing on audit and transparency issues, hosted by Research for Action |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://researchforaction.uk/event-audit-accountability-failure-in-local-government-where-next-for-r... |
| Description | Presentation to FinGeo Networks, University of Leuven, Belgium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited presentation to academics and activists involved in the Regional Studies 'FinGeo' network to talk about the financial networks involved in the financing of real estate assets in Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.regionalstudies.org/events/fingeo-seminars/ |
| Description | Rosa interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Rosa is a Greek outlet. We provided editor in chief, Dimitris Rapidis, a briefing on the link between Abu Dhabi and Manchester in urban development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Talksport Interview on Manchester Life report |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Richard was invited onto the White and Jordan show to discuss the Manchester Offshored report |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | The Independent article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Our Manchester Offshored Report was covered in The Independent: "Public land sold to Manchester City's owners on the cheap in 'sweetheart deal,' report claims" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/manchester-city-council-abu-dhabi-sheikh-mansour-b21... |
| Description | Tribune article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Authored an article in Tribune magazine: 'Newcastle's Saudi Takeover Is Just the Latest Chapter in Football Capitalism'. This magazine article drew on our research on Abu Dhabi developments in Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/10/newcastles-saudi-takeover-is-just-the-latest-chapter-in-football-ca... |
| Description | Tribune article 'The Privatisation of Manchester' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Magazine article written on our research on land privatisation in Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/05/the-privatisation-of-manchester |
| Description | Tribune article on the UK planning system |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | comment on the UK planning system, published in Tribune magazine |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/02/manchesters-fight-for-the-city |
| Description | Urban Inequalities Lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lecture and group activities with MA Development Studies PG students in Manchester based on findings of the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Walking tour of the financialised city |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Guest lecturer leading three walking tours of financialisation and gentrification in Ancoats, developing a teaching methodology to examine how financialisation coheres within specific urban environments |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Walking tour of the financialised city, Sheffield Hallam |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Guest lecturer leading two walking tours of financialisation and gentrification in Ancoats, developing a teaching methodology to examine how financialisation coheres within specific urban environments |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Walking tour of the financialised city, Uni of Leeds |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Guest lecturer leading a walking tour of financialisation and gentrification in Ancoats, developing a teaching methodology to examine how financialisation coheres within specific urban environments |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Workshop on land privatisation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Briefing workshop on land privatisation for Labour Members in Manchester |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |