The Council and democracy Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025

The Our Manchester Strategy 2016–2025 set out the future Manchester we want to see.  

It details the goals that everyone in our city – our public, private, voluntary and community organisations and our residents – will work on together to put Manchester in the top flight of world cities by 2025. 

Halfway through the original Strategy we reset our priorities for the remaining years to 2025. We acknowledged – but looked beyond – current challenges to ensure the city achieves its ambition. 

The reset of our goals was based on over 3800 consultation responses during summer 2020.  

The reset in 2020 was overseen by the Our Manchester Forum, a partnership board of strategic stakeholders from across the city. They oversaw the creation of the original strategy in 2015 and have been monitoring its implementation ever since. 

Download a PDF of the Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025.

Our Manchester today

Manchester is still a place defined by its diversity, vibrancy and creativity. As we work for a more equal and greener future, we'll continue to build upon our history of finding new ways of working and getting things done. 

We’ve seen many parts of the city go through physical changes, with new housing allowing more people to live here. As more businesses have invested here, job opportunities have been created for people across all our neighbourhoods. Our residents are better connected with improved transport and can enjoy a varied culture and leisure scene. As we move towards a zero-carbon future, we’re recycling more and our parks have been protected and developed for all. 

Getting there  

The State of the City report shows how we're doing and whether we're on track to meet our goals in the Our Manchester Strategy. Between 2015 and 2020, Manchester made some great progress. Our population rose twice as quickly as the average across other areas in the UK. Our educational standards rose across all settings – from primary to further education. We saw increased job opportunities with our international outlook attracting more businesses, students and visitors until Covid-19 hit in 2020.

Find out more about our progress in the first five years of the strategy.

More work to do 

Whilst Manchester made great progress in many areas, some of the key challenges set out in the original strategy remained; these have required continued focus in the years up to 2025. 

Find out more about the key challenges

New focus

Our communities wanted a renewed focus on young people, our economy, health, housing, environment and infrastructure. 

Our future Manchester

The original goal remained – for Manchester to be in the top-flight of world cities by 2025 with a strong economy and highly skilled people. Our goal was to be well-connected, limiting climate change and somewhere everyone feels safe and lives well in an attractive and welcoming city.  

Find out more about the key strategies that support our vision for our future Manchester.

Forward to 2025 – Manchester’s priorities 

For Manchester to achieve its vision, we refocused our efforts on key priorities.  

Through each priority runs Manchester’s commitment to build a more equal, inclusive and sustainable city for everyone who lives, works, volunteers, studies and plays here. Only by working together can we achieve our priorities to make Manchester: 

  • A thriving and sustainable city  
  • A highly skilled city  
  • A progressive and equitable city  
  • A liveable and zero-carbon city  
  • A connected city   

Find out more about Manchester's priorities.

Delivering and monitoring our progress

As a strategy for the whole city of Manchester, achieving our ambition requires strong partnership working and collaboration. To achieve the priorities set out in Forward to 2025, Manchester continues to work in an ‘Our Manchester’ way. 

Success depends on our people and organisations coming together so their collective knowledge, skills, effort and passion is harnessed.

We must continue to put people first; listen, learn and respond; recognise the strengths of individuals and communities; and work together to build relationships and create conversations.  

Find out more about the detailed plans for delivering and monitoring our progress.

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