Opinions

In this “10 Years On” series, we’ll look at OBI blogs from a decade ago – what did we get right, what did we get wrong, how has the picture changed? First up, Will Lewis on the Northern Quarter’s appeal. As Will explains, the Northern Quarter had become something of an office destination by 2015, […]

Another month gone and 2026 is really kicking into gear now – I was lucky enough to attend the Brits at Co op Live, an incredible occasion crackling with Mancunian energy, really showing the city well on the world stage. And that’s not all that happened in February… Corporate deal of the month Tech firm […]

We’ve hit the ground running in 2026 at OBI, with a highlight being the first Trading Places episode. Here are a few other things that grabbed my attention in January. Deal of the month Summize is a company on the up, showing year-on-year growth of 100% and this month they secured a $50m investment, truly […]

The blurring of built and bought There’s one question that comes up on almost every office project. Do we build the meeting rooms, or do we buy them? A few years ago, this was an easy call. Built meant quality. Furniture meant compromise. But that line is getting increasingly blurred and built and bought are […]

The Office for Budget Responsibility might make a big, indeed seemingly impossible job out of timely publication of key communications, but there are no such problems here – we present to you the first OBI end-of-month digest, a wrap-up of notable goings-on, things you might have missed and things you can still catch up on. […]

Will Lewis says Andy Burnham’s new growth fund will help bridge the property ‘viability gap’. Manchester is facing a shortage of prime commercial space in an era where an increasing level of occupier demand is focused on best-in-class offices. Since the pandemic, the flight-to-quality trend is real and due to a challenging economic climate – high build […]

Strong occupier interest has continued into mid-2025 at PJD Group’s Sevendale House in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, with two significant lease events completed in recent months. The deals follow a major refurbishment in 2024 that transformed the 90,000 sq ft office building, adding a striking communal breakout and event space, a wellness studio, and a physiotherapy suite. Tech and digital […]

The Warrington office market has made a notable comeback, recording 78,575 sq ft of office take-up in the first quarter of 2025 across 38 transactions. Simon Roddam from OBI’s Warrington office, and spokesperson for the Manchester Office Agency Forum, highlighted the significance of this data from the latest MOAF quarterly research. Simon noted, “The transactions […]

Return to the office gains momentum as demand for high-quality workspaces surges Manchester, UK – March 17, 2025 The latest OBI Manchester City Centre Office Market Report for 2024 reveals a growing shift of large corporate occupiers looking to expand their occupational footprint when undertaking an office relocation. In 2024, 70% of transactions concluded over […]

Manchester, a city known for its rich industrial heritage, cultural vibrancy, and resilient spirit, owes much of its modern transformation to the visionary leadership of Sir Howard Bernstein. As the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council from 1998 to 2017, Sir Howard played a pivotal role in the city’s regeneration, making it a global hub […]