There’s a new wave of city-dwellers coming to Manchester — and they’re younger than you might think. Forget the 20-something renters who have flocked to newly-built apartments. Forget the students who arrive in droves from across the country - and the world - every autumn.
No, this new generation are younger still — children. And they’re at the heart of one of the fastest-growing populations in Manchester city centre.
The latest Census data — taken in 2021 — has revealed that across the city, the largest growth was in the 10-14-year-old band, with 9,515 more youngsters. There was also growth in the age five to nine group — by 8,000 — and in the 15-19 category, by 4,000.
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Although more detailed data by ward has not been released at the time of writing, the surge in younger residents is a trend that’s been growing over the last few years, according to officials on the ground.
Such is the demand for services, planning permission was granted last week for a new primary school in Deansgate, which had been in the works since 2020. Pupils are expected to walk through Crown Street School’s gates for the first time in 2024.
Talking about the growth in the number of families in town, Councillor Marcus Johns, who represents the Deansgate ward, said: “People get pregnant and have babies. You do often see people like that who will move on, not everyone will stay, maybe they will move on when looking for schools. That’s why we pressed for the school. People were saying they did not have the right facilities.
“In addition, with Manchester being a very international city, I think a lot of families like mine are more international than the families that would choose to move. My partner is Spanish and that idea of bringing someone up in a flat is normal there.
“I think the third thing in a lot of newer developments is that there just seems to be more children — the proportion of children in Deansate Square is probably higher than a randomly chosen block.”
With a trend emerging, the Manchester Evening News spoke to several families to find out how parents are adapting to city centre life.
“We wanted some green space for her to be able to go out and be free”
One of the parents we spoke to was Coun Johns himself, who has a son. “There are so many deviations from the mean and every family will have one,” he told the MEN . “Ours happens to be where we live. We find ways to work it out.
“When you imagine a blissful childhood you might imagine a cul-de-sac — but you adapt — I have Hulme Park on my doorstep. With things like learning to ride a bike you just have to plan it more, rather than just letting them ride up and down the street.
“We have had to change all the balcony handles to put locks on them. I know a lot of things about turning handles now. Things like having a garden — a lot of my childhood was in the garden. We have a balcony with plants, and there are plants inside too, [but we have to] use the park more as an extension of our space.
“There are things we probably won’t do, like a family barbeque. It’s those sorts of things that you work around. We walk everywhere and that can be difficult with someone who does not always want to. Once you have got into the routine, though, it’s okay.”
A lack of green space was a reason why another couple — Eliza and Keith, who have a three year old daughter —have thought about leaving town. Mum Eliza, 33, said: “When she was born we considered moving particularly because we wanted some green space for her to be able to go out and be free.”
However, the family’s plans to move were put on hold with ongoing cladding works for their block meaning they could not sell their property. Eliza added: "When we want to take her to a play area it gets more complicated.
“We have to drive somewhere. Usually we go to the sandpit next to Great Northern, or we go to Queen’s Park, or just outside the football museum.”
Agnieszka, 43, has an 18-month old son and a five-year-old daughter, and says she feels like a 'nuisance' living in the city centre.
“I think the UK is extremely child unfriendly," she said. "In Spain and Cyprus, you have got parks, play areas and skate parks within the city and the city centre. You are encouraged to spend time in the city centre with your family.
“In Manchester there’s no areas for families. There are no places to take children. The giant sandbox at Great Northern is amazing, and there’s a play area in Piccadilly Gardens. But for accessibility with prams we are being given the impression we are not very welcome.
“It’s a little bit sad because I love this city. I cannot feel the love anymore. I feel like a nuisance. I get the looks that my children are too loud and my baby’s crying. I still have friends [in town] and you do not want to compromise and [move into] a semi. This is where I belong.”
“Schools are something that makes me a bit anxious”
Education is another concern. “Schools are something that makes me a bit anxious,” Eliza admitted when asked what her plans were for the future. “I do not even want to think about it now, we’ll start looking in November. I am hoping I won’t have to drive too far.”
Although more school places will be added in the coming years with the opening of Crown Street, the fact the city centre hasn't historically been residential means families across the city centre face tough decisions. One of those families is Carmen and Miguel, who have a three-year-old boy.
“For schools it will be a fight to get a place. There’s only two – one is New Islington and there’s a catholic school,” Carmen, 39, explained. “It’s going to be difficult, when he goes to high school I will need to move, so the time frame for here is limited. There is no option for him to go anywhere else. It’s not viable.”
Education is a concern on the city’s fringes, too. Rosie is bringing up her three-year-old daughter with Paul on Hulme’s Redbricks estate.
She told the MEN : “It seems weird that there’s not many religious people but an abundance of religious schools. There's only one in the area that’s not religious.
“School is not the be all and end all. There’s lots of other opportunities outside of school to learn. Will even consider homeschooling but hopefully we will be able to send her to the school.”
Despite the pressure on places, living near New Islington Free School, to the east of the city centre, means Carmen, a marketing manager, feels like she is raising her child in ‘a community’. She added: “The beauty of having a school close to you is the community. I think Ancoats is starting to become a community. If we have the help from the council [for places for children] to mingle and play we will be able to stay longer and fight for high school.”
However, Carmen also said that when their little one gets to secondary school age, they will have to move unless they win that fight for more provision. It's battles like theirs which will determine just how many families stay in Manchester city centre - and how town evolves in years to come.
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