Declan Carey

A blue tit mural painted by Sarah Yates on Manchester’s 50 Newton Street in 2011 could be removed during planned repairs to the Grade-II listed building that houses Hatters Hostel. Aroundtown SA has submitted proposals to Manchester City Council involving roof replacement, masonry repairs and façade improvements, with the mural’s temporary planning permission also slated for removal. Yates and Councillor Jon-Connor Lyons argue that the popular artwork brings nature, colour and cultural value to the Northern Quarter, and suggest commissioning replacement public art if it cannot be preserved.

A planning vote on the future of Ryebank Fields in south Manchester could take place on September 24, though Manchester City Council has not yet confirmed the agenda. The Ryebank Fields Community Group wants the site retained as community woodland and meadow, while Manchester Metropolitan University, Step Places and Southway Housing Trust propose 120 homes, including affordable and age-friendly social-rent apartments. Supporters of development cite Manchester’s housing shortage and plans to remediate contamination from the site’s former industrial use; opponents argue that the green space is highly valued by residents and that other brownfield sites should be prioritised. The decision could determine the long-term character of the Chorlton area.

Residents living near Manchester’s Diecast venue say persistent bass, late-night crowds, public urination, drug use and other anti-social behaviour have made their lives intolerable, with some paying for hotels or moving away. They argue that the venue’s original promises of amenities such as a bakery and gym were not fulfilled and that Manchester City Council has failed to respond adequately to complaints. Diecast says it wants a positive relationship with the community and highlights the benefits of its multi-use venue. The council says officers have visited more than 100 times, but previous investigations did not identify statutory noise nuisance or licensing breaches warranting a review. It plans further assessments of noise and anti-social behaviour and points to a future mixed-use regeneration scheme that could include a purpose-built hospitality venue.

Manchester's adult social care workers help vulnerable residents return home from hospital and maintain their independence. The Care Quality Commission rated the city's service Good overall, with frontline staff, early discharge planning and a joint health and social care control room in Hulme receiving praise. Nearly 10,000 people received long-term support last year, while more than 6,200 accessed short-term reablement and related services. Inspectors identified weaknesses in safeguarding, including inconsistent responses, delays and longer waits for people with complex needs, prompting Manchester City Council to make further improvements a priority.

Bee Network bus drivers in Greater Manchester say extreme summer heat has caused fainting, vomiting and A&E visits during long shifts on buses that can reach about 40C. Drivers warn that reduced concentration could endanger passengers, while some also report broken air conditioning at depots. Transport for Greater Manchester said it was urgently raising the concerns with bus operators, and Stagecoach said it provides water, breaks and hot-weather procedures. Older buses are particularly affected, while newer electric vehicles have better cooling; the network aims to become fully electric by 2030.

Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig has promised to meet residents affected by the large warehouses at Astley Business Park and investigate how the authority can help. Residents say the buildings tower over their homes and gardens and are causing serious noise problems, while campaigners argue that industrial units should not be built so close to houses. Craig said she was shocked by the situation and supported reviewing planning rules to prevent similar developments. Whistl, the first company to operate at the site, said it understood the strength of community feeling and had maintained dialogue with residents while taking steps to reduce the impact.

New Century Hall near Manchester Victoria station has submitted plans for a major redesign after its day-to-day food hall operation was deemed commercially unviable. The proposal would create two connected but independently operated venues, including a live music space for up to 450 people, a pizza venue, a bar, private events and community activities. Manchester City Council is expected to decide the application by mid-September.

Carl Austin-Behan, a 54-year-old RAF veteran, former Mr Gay UK and former first openly gay Lord Mayor of Manchester, has been selected as Labour’s candidate for the September 10 Burnage by-election. The contest follows former councillor Bev Craig’s election as mayor of Greater Manchester and could be close after the Greens won a seat in the ward in May. Austin-Behan said Labour must rebuild trust and highlighted speeding and accidents on Kingsway, fly-tipping, litter, and traffic linked to housing development on the former cricket ground. He served in the RAF from 1991 to 1997 and said he was discharged for being gay; the Ministry of Defence expressed regret over the treatment of LGBT personnel before 2000 and cited financial recognition and restorative measures. Manchester currently has 63 Labour councillors, 21 Greens, seven Reform UK councillors and four Liberal Democrats.

Manchester’s Northern Quarter is set to receive £4 million of investment through a business improvement district launching in January 2027 and running until 2032. Supported by local businesses, the plan proposes enhanced cleaning, measures to address aggressive begging, drug-related activity and anti-social behaviour, an evening support “Angels” scheme, creative projects and a loyalty programme for workers. The BID will cover much of the northern city centre, include around 420 qualifying businesses, and be managed by CityCo in cooperation with Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police.

Greater Manchester's new policy providing free bus travel to 11- to 16-year-olds is expected to launch in January 2027 and could benefit up to 200,000 young people. Transport for Greater Manchester estimates the scheme will cost £15m to £20m annually, depending on uptake and whether additional buses, drivers and depot capacity are needed. Funding will come through Greater Manchester's government settlement, with possible additional support linked to the national £2 fare cap. Mayor Bev Craig says the policy could save families around £500 per child each year, while parents in Bolton welcomed its potential to reduce financial barriers to travel.

Calls are growing for Greater Manchester’s Bee Network buses and other public spaces to use local northern accents instead of neutral or received-pronunciation automated voices. Sociolinguist Rob Drummond argues that hearing regional voices could strengthen community pride and challenge the stigma attached to working-class accents, while Jo Platt and councillor Jon-Connor Lyons support the idea. Northern already uses recordings by its own staff, and Transport for Greater Manchester says it will consider feedback on the proposal.

Manchester councillor Shahbaz Sarwar has left George Galloway’s Workers Party of Britain and joined the Labour group on Manchester City Council. Sarwar said Andy Burnham’s apology for Labour’s initial response to the Gaza war, the party’s subsequent stance including recognition of Palestine, and his relationship with council leader Bev Craig influenced the decision. He acknowledged that some supporters may be disappointed but said he wanted to prioritise unity, cooperation and positive change for Longsight. Labour welcomed him, while the Workers Party was asked for comment. Labour remains in control of Manchester City Council with 64 councillors, alongside 21 Greens, seven Reform UK councillors and four Liberal Democrats.

Claims that Andy Burnham arranged the lease for Number 10 North in Manchester before the June 18 Makerfield by-election are false. Manchester City Council and the Cabinet Office said the June 10 lease decision concerned separate, openly marketed offices in Heron House and was unrelated to Burnham or Number 10 North. Preparatory work for the government’s Manchester base took place during the Labour leadership contest using existing government offices, with the facility intended to support the transfer of power away from Westminster.

Manchester Town Hall’s £524.8 million restoration remains on schedule for completion in spring 2027, after the Grade I-listed building closed in 2018. Exterior work is largely finished, including the replacement of more than 160,000 roof slates, and scaffolding is being removed. Remaining work includes restoring the Great Hall and other state rooms, installing lifts, completing mosaic work and fitting out the kitchen. Testing and fit-outs will follow completion before the building reopens to the public, with a new visitor centre planned. The project was originally expected to finish in 2024 at a cost of nearly £330 million, but delays and complications have increased both the timetable and budget.

A Manchester City Council licensing panel refused an application to change the premises licence holder for Beilul Lounge on Wilmslow Road after police and council officers reported absent staff, suspected staffing irregularities, rubbish and rats during a March inspection. The current licence holder, Mehari Kesete, did not attend the hearing. A further hearing will review the restaurant’s premises licence and could revoke it. Manager Merhawi Brhoe denied that rats were inside the venue and said regular pest control and cleaning were being carried out.

A derelict former industrial area off Collyhurst Road in north Manchester is being redeveloped through the Victoria North project. St Catherine’s Wood, a 2.7-acre park along the River Irk, has opened as the first phase of a planned network of 113 acres of connected green space. The wider scheme aims to deliver 15,000 homes across seven neighbourhoods over 15 years, including about 5,000 near the new park. Manchester City Council says the project will provide green space for existing and future communities, with CCTV and lighting planned to support safety. Funding includes a £51.6 million Housing Infrastructure Fund grant and £6.93 million in Greater Manchester brownfield funding.

Manchester City Council says the city completed 4,766 homes in 2025/26, exceeding the 4,261 homes recorded for Greater London in the council’s data. The Mayor of London’s office disputes the comparison, citing official government figures showing 32,949 new homes in London versus 3,653 in Manchester. Manchester plans to deliver 36,000 homes by 2032, including 901 affordable-tenure homes completed in the latest year, while city leaders are also seeking devolved powers to introduce rent controls as average rents reach about £1,300.

Manchester City Council revoked Tib Street Off Licence’s premises licence after a June 1 multi-agency raid found nitrous oxide canisters, snap bags, crack pipes, cannabis grinders, illicit cigarettes, illegal disposable vapes, a 3D-printed knuckle duster, a knife and a baseball bat. Greater Manchester Police said the raid followed complaints and intelligence about anti-social behaviour, drug dealing, suspected stolen goods and other criminal activity. Licence holder and designated premises supervisor Zahid Mahmood, a family member and an associate were arrested on suspicion of drug and weapons-related offences, with the investigation ongoing. The shop was also subject to a closure order until September 3.

A £150 million project is replacing six kilometres of aging Metrolink track, prompting three‑week closures on the Eccles, Trafford Centre and Altrincham lines. Work near Trafford Bar involves around‑the‑clock operations to install new sleepers and redesigned tracks expected to improve reliability, increase speed limits and reduce future disruption. Upgrades also include drainage improvements and lift replacements, with further works planned in October. Transport for Greater Manchester says the improvements will lengthen track lifespan and enhance passenger experience while acknowledging current travel disruption.

Manchester plans to increase fly-tipping fines from £700 to £1,000 and deploy 16 portable CCTV cameras to gather evidence against offenders. The move follows a rise in reported incidents and a commitment by council leaders to significantly reduce the problem over the next decade. Councillors supported the tougher penalties, though concerns were raised about whether they would be a strong enough deterrent. A council report emphasised the importance of education and engagement to address household waste mismanagement, with the Neighbourhood Compliance Service coordinating support where repeat issues occur.

Plans to build 61,000 new homes in Manchester have raised concerns among councillors about increased pressure on roads, public transport, and local services. Officials emphasized the need for sustainable communities supported by adequate amenities, while highlighting proposals for a transport shift toward public transit, walking, and cycling. Regeneration areas and growth locations are included in the draft local plan, which prioritizes brownfield development and is expected to be adopted in 2027.

Redevelopment plans for North Manchester General Hospital are advancing, with construction expected to begin by 2028 on a new digitally enabled acute hospital and outpatient building. Led by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the project forms part of the government’s New Hospital Programme and is tied to a broader £6 billion regeneration effort aimed at improving health outcomes, creating jobs and expanding housing in north Manchester. Local officials and NHS leaders reported progress on design work and initial site improvements while emphasising the project's role in addressing long-standing health inequalities and supporting economic growth.

Health and safety inspectors reported unsanitary conditions, serious fire hazards and lack of proper staffing and employment records at Beilul Lounge in Manchester. Greater Manchester Police requested revocation of the venue’s licence on public safety and crime prevention grounds after repeated visits revealed a rat infestation, blocked exits, missing staff oversight and absent management. A licensing hearing is scheduled for July 27.

Andy Burnham used his first speech as Prime Minister to pledge an end to long‑term rough sleeping, backed by £340 million in new funding and a five‑year plan to expand housing and support services. His record as Greater Manchester mayor showed major early reductions in rough sleeping through initiatives like A Bed Every Night, though numbers have risen again since the cost‑of‑living crisis. Homelessness charities broadly welcomed his national commitment while stressing the need for sustained investment and systemic reforms. The government plans further measures before autumn as it launches a wider programme to address severe and long‑term homelessness across the UK.