'Just don't make it too polished' - Fears for Manchester's soul amid city's skyscraper boom
Recent developments across Manchester have led to many people wondering about the direction that the city is heading in.
While new, fancy apartment blocks attract wealthy young professionals who can invest in the city, there is a risk that they detract from what makes Manchester the great place it is, having a rich music and cultural history without the polish of some big cities.
Some are convinced that the incoming wave of new skyscrapers will push Manchester into being a northern London, but do people on the street agree with that concept, and indeed, do they think it is a good thing?
We went out to ask a few random people in Manchester what they thought of the developments and whether they would rather live in Manchester or London. You can see the results in full in the video above.
Bea and Carmen, two students who have lived in the south, both said that the charm of Manchester and the kindness of the people give it the advantage.
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“I’ll go to London and walk around and everyone’s head is down with super-fast walking, whereas [in Manchester], I’ll go and get my morning Greggs and I’ll have a conversation with whoever’s there,” said Carmen.
Bea also said she loved the city, and is divided about the new developments.
“Just don’t make it too polished,” she said. ”Manchester is such a soulful city, and one thing I have noticed is that it is getting a little bit more corporate and industrial, particularly in areas like Deansgate. I would be really disappointed if they did anything to areas like the Northern Quarter.”