Richard Coulthard, Director and Head of Corporate and Commercial, reflects on how the up and coming budget could affect Manchester businesses as the firm enjoys a successful first few months of trading from their Spinningfields office.
Manchester has never been short of ambition. Over the past two decades, the city has strengthened its position as a major commercial centre, attracting employers, technology businesses, professional services firms, manufacturers, developers and investors.
Political discussion about moving more decision-making and public investment away from Westminster has led some commentators to describe Manchester as a potential “Number 10 in the North”. The phrase is symbolic rather than an official designation, but it captures a wider debate about devolution, regional growth and Manchester’s influence on national policy.
That debate now has a clear focal point. The Chancellor is due to deliver the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026. The Government has said that the Budget will seek to move “money and power out of Westminster” while maintaining fiscal discipline and giving businesses greater stability. Until the speech and supporting documents are published, however, the detail remains uncertain.
For businesses across Greater Manchester, the key issue is therefore not what the Budget is assumed to contain, but which announcements could materially affect investment, property, employment, contracts and growth plans.
A Budget That Could Strengthen the Devolution Agenda
Greater Manchester already operates with devolved responsibilities and an integrated funding settlement. The forthcoming Budget may provide further detail on the Government’s approach to fiscal devolution, locally retained revenues, infrastructure and place-based investment.
For Manchester businesses, this could influence where and how public money is deployed. Potential areas to watch include transport, housing, skills, employment support, regeneration, innovation and local business funding. Any new powers or funding would need to be assessed carefully once the eligibility criteria, timescales and delivery arrangements are known.
A stronger local role could help decision-makers respond more directly to regional priorities. It could also create differences between areas, funding programmes and procurement routes. Businesses should avoid committing resources on the strength of headlines alone and should review the final Budget documents and any later guidance.
Commercial Property and Regeneration
Commercial property is likely to remain central to Manchester’s growth story. Confidence in infrastructure, regeneration and long-term public investment can affect demand for offices, industrial units, logistics facilities, mixed-use developments and development land.
The Budget could affect the market through announcements on capital spending, housing, planning, transport, business rates, investment incentives or local authority funding. Depending on the detail, some measures may support development activity, while others may increase costs or alter the commercial case for a project.
Landlords, tenants, developers and investors should consider:
- whether proposed acquisitions or developments remain commercially viable after any tax or funding changes
- the effect of business rates and occupation costs on leases and relocations
- conditions attached to public funding or regeneration schemes
- planning, infrastructure and construction obligations
- funding terms, valuation assumptions and completion timetables
- whether contracts allow for changes in law, taxation, costs or project scope
Early legal and financial review can help identify whether an announcement creates a genuine opportunity or simply changes the risk profile of a transaction.
Tax, Costs and Business Planning
Budgets can affect businesses directly through taxation and reliefs, and indirectly through confidence, consumer spending, borrowing conditions and public-sector demand. The precise effect will vary significantly by sector, size, ownership structure and investment plans.
Ahead of 28 October, businesses may wish to model several scenarios rather than act on speculation. These might include changes to property-related costs, capital allowances, business rates, investment incentives, employment costs or the tax treatment of owners and investors. Specialist tax advice should be taken before accelerating, delaying or restructuring a transaction for anticipated Budget reasons.
Cash flow also deserves attention. A measure that is positive over the long term may still create short-term implementation costs, while a new relief may involve detailed qualifying conditions. Boards and owner-managed businesses should record the assumptions behind significant pre-Budget decisions and revisit them once the final legislation and guidance are available.
Public Contracts and Supply-Chain Opportunities
If the Budget supports additional regional investment, Manchester businesses may see opportunities connected with infrastructure, housing, technology, professional services, skills and regeneration. Some opportunities may arise directly through public procurement, while others may flow through principal contractors, delivery bodies and local supply chains.
Businesses seeking this work should ensure that their tendering arrangements, governance and contracts are sufficiently robust. Key issues can include procurement requirements, pricing, payment terms, performance obligations, data protection, intellectual property, social value commitments, subcontracting and dispute resolution.
Growth in public investment does not remove commercial risk. Businesses should understand who bears responsibility for delay, inflation, scope changes and funding withdrawal before committing staff or expenditure.
Employment and Skills
Any Budget measures concerning regional skills, employment support or business investment could affect recruitment and workforce planning. Organisations expanding in response to new opportunities may need to review employment contracts, bonus arrangements, restrictive covenants, hybrid working policies and recruitment processes.
Acquisitions, outsourcing arrangements or changes in service delivery may also raise TUPE and consultation issues. Growth plans should align operational need, funding certainty and employment obligations, particularly where roles depend upon a time-limited programme or public contract.
Contracts in an Uncertain Economic Environment
The period around a Budget can create uncertainty over costs, tax treatment and project viability. Clear contracts can help allocate these risks. Businesses entering new agreements should consider whether the drafting deals adequately with price changes, payment dates, variations, delays, force majeure, changes in law, termination and dispute resolution.
Existing contracts may also merit review where a Budget announcement changes the commercial assumptions on which they were negotiated. Whether a party can change price, suspend performance or terminate will depend on the wording of the agreement and the surrounding circumstances. A Budget announcement will not automatically rewrite the parties’ bargain.
What Manchester Businesses Can Do Before Budget Day
- Identify planned investments, property transactions, recruitments and contracts that could be sensitive to tax or funding changes.
- Prepare realistic best-case, central and downside scenarios.
- Avoid relying on unconfirmed press reports when making irreversible decisions.
- Check whether board approvals, funding documents and contracts clearly record key assumptions.
- Review procurement readiness if the business is likely to pursue publicly funded work.
- Arrange prompt legal, tax and financial review once the Budget and supporting documents are published.
A Potential Opportunity, but the Detail Will Matter
The Autumn Budget may reinforce Manchester’s role in the Government’s regional growth and devolution agenda. It may also bring difficult decisions on spending, taxation and the allocation of limited public resources. The commercial effect will not be uniform, and the most important provisions may sit in the supporting documents rather than the headline speech.
For businesses, the sensible approach is to prepare without pre-judging the outcome. Those that understand their legal commitments, maintain reliable financial information and can respond quickly to confirmed measures will be better placed to pursue opportunities while managing risk.
Supporting Businesses Across Manchester and Beyond
Ison Harrison’s Manchester office reflects the firm’s commitment to supporting businesses throughout Greater Manchester, the North West and across England and Wales. Our commercial property, corporate, employment and dispute resolution teams work with start-ups, owner-managed businesses and established regional and national organisations.
If your business is considering expansion, a property transaction, investment, a major contract or commercial restructuring, our solicitors can provide clear, practical advice tailored to your objectives.
Following the Budget, we can also help you consider how confirmed measures may affect existing plans and future opportunities.
For a no-obligation discussion about your business and legal requirements, contact Ison Harrison’s Manchester team on 0161 4705800 or email hello@isonharrison.co.uk.
This article provides general information only and should not be relied upon as legal, tax or financial advice. The position may change when the Autumn Budget and supporting documents are published. Specific advice should be obtained for individual circumstances.
Review Sources
HM Treasury, “Budget to move power and money out of Westminster, and into every postcode around Britain”, 31 July 2026.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, “Integrated Settlements for Mayoral Combined Authorities”, updated 25 March 2026.
