# The best and brightest cities of 2017 – who’s ready for Brexit?  Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2017-02-01 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Trade and Investment Priorities in Brexit Britain Meta Description: Discover the latest Centre for Cities and Properties of the World data on the trade and investment priorities in UK cities ahead of Brexit. Learn how URL: https://financedigest.com/the-best-and-brightest-cities-of-2017-whos-ready-for-brexithtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/1-9-1736844224165-compressed.jpg) - **Trade and investment top the priority list (Properties of the World)** - **North/South divide showing strongly for goods and services (Centre for Cities)** - **Liverpool and Manchester standing out from the crowd (Properties of the World)** Figures released only yesterday from Centre for Cities have highlighted the shape of the UK’s 63 biggest cities in the run-up to the triggering of Article 51. The 2017 data reveals a clear divide between the [North and the South](https://www.financedigest.com/north-korea-fires-artillery-into-sea-as-south-korea-and-u-s-pledge-cooperation.html "North Korea fires artillery into sea as South Korea and U.S. pledge cooperation"), with goods being exported mainly from the North and services from the South. Centre for Cities has emphasised the relevance of trade and exports in the run-up to Brexit, while visionary property investment consultancy [**Properties of the World**](http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011-R3UTg-ikjtGz9E5x3Ii6DDcB5OGifhmh9lUn9S7beWNGVxacSC51yPHDdKAHB6wyEXJvZF7trfbuPeiW5-vv-kFfc9jwt9zlCIiNkdl9hQAsRMeUb87zPhnDzrIdEriZAE_g9LpB4ELuU8fYSO7fN2Mit36XzbuNHO0JtgGqCzPdolYpDgJ6Ru756dqRz-&c=se6Rm5-mVaxsV-yXVBOpHwrQR3UGGWRwQ8aawCWvpUV_2j7nmwQ6uA==&ch=Egc1Wv_kcKGmESdEQ5NBpc3spOk4jTk3guFAv7kEIo0Ko9oLqFhtRQ==) has stressed the importance of inward investment. **Jean Liggett, CEO** of [Properties of the World](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-get-started-in-the-world-of-property-management.html "How to Get Started in the World of Property Management"), comments, 2017 is going to be a [landmark year for the UK’s cities](https://www.financedigest.com/australia-drops-landmark-criminal-cartel-case-against-citi-deutsche.html "Australia drops landmark criminal cartel case against Citi, Deutsche"). Seven of them will be electing metro mayors in May, with the newly [elected officials](https://www.financedigest.com/quebecs-elected-officials-must-swear-oath-to-king-charles-to-sit-in-national-assembly.html "Quebec’s elected officials must swear oath to King Charles to sit in National Assembly") having to hit the ground running in terms of dealing with the fall-out from the government’s triggering of Article 51, which should take place by the end of March. Trade, exports and investment will require firm, decisive management in order for cities to thrive over the [year ahead.”](https://www.financedigest.com/the-year-ahead-top-payments-trends-to-watch-out-for-in-2022.html "The year ahead: Top payments trends to watch out for in 2022") [Greater Manchester and Liverpool City](https://www.financedigest.com/brexit-the-risks-to-the-city-and-fintech-have-never-been-greater.html "BREXIT: THE RISKS TO THE CITY AND FINTECH HAVE NEVER BEEN GREATER") Region are two of the cities that will be directly electing their own metro mayors in May. The devolved [powers associated with the move means that the two cities](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-seizes-ukraine-nuclear-power-plant-as-forces-lay-siege-to-cities.html "Russia seizes Ukraine nuclear power plant as forces lay siege to cities") should benefit from greater ability to respond swiftly to the changing environment post-Article 51. Their ability to place a local emphasis on their reactions should help them to weather the storm and ensure that their [manufacturing and services sectors respond appropriately to shifts in focus and demand](https://www.financedigest.com/expansion-in-manufacturing-sector-has-increased-demand-for-industrial-cooling-system-market.html "Expansion In Manufacturing Sector Has Increased Demand For Industrial Cooling System Market"). [Centre for Cities’ finding that the North relies far more on goods for its exports](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-grain-export-coordination-centre-opens-in-istanbul.html "Ukraine grain export coordination centre opens in Istanbul"), while the South relies on services, is also likely to have an impact on cities’ resilience in the face of Brexit. It’s easier to move services overseas than it is to move manufacturing operations: moving services simply means setting up office space and relocating people, but moving manufacturing involves specialist premises, [supply chain](https://www.financedigest.com/encouraging-female-talent-and-entrepreneurship-in-the-supply-chain-industry.html "Encouraging female talent and entrepreneurship in the supply chain industry") changes and import/export considerations, as well as moving staff. The result is that the UK’s goods-producing cities are less likely to [see a sudden outflow](https://www.financedigest.com/global-equity-funds-see-large-outflows-on-slowdown-worries.html "Global equity funds see large outflows on slowdown worries") of businesses during the Brexit process. ![The best and brightest cities of 2017 - who's ready for Brexit? -2](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2-8-1736844224060-compressed.jpg) Both Manchester and Liverpool stand out from the crowd in terms of their ability to face Brexit head-on, according to Properties of the World. Not only will their metro mayors and reliance on the [production of goods stand them in good stead](https://www.financedigest.com/new-product-launches-to-put-the-cod-liver-oil-market-in-a-good-stead.html "New Product Launches To Put The Cod Liver Oil Market In A Good Stead"), but the cities have unique attributes that should be of use. **Properties of the World CEO Jean Liggett** explains, “Manchester and Liverpool both enjoy property-related factors that will help to see them through the choppy waters of the Brexit process. The latest Hometrack data shows that Manchester’s property prices grew at the second-highest rate in the UK during 2016, while Liverpool [topped the table for growth rate](https://www.financedigest.com/microbial-rennet-market-overview-2022-2029-top-manufacturers-cagr-value-future-scope-revenue-growth-rate-and-forecast.html "Microbial Rennet Market Overview 2022-2029 (Top Manufacturers, CAGR Value, Future Scope, Revenue, Growth Rate and Forecast)") over the past three months. These dynamic urban areas are [perfectly positioned to lead the UK’s cities into Brexit](https://www.financedigest.com/for-britains-chicken-farmers-brexit-and-covid-brew-a-perfect-storm.html "For Britain’s chicken farmers, Brexit and COVID brew a perfect storm") and out the other side. The Hometrack UK Cities House [Price Index](https://www.financedigest.com/world-food-price-index-falls-for-sixth-month-in-sept-fao.html "World food price index falls for sixth month in Sept -FAO") reveals that Manchester’s property market is growing at the fastest rate for more than a decade. It is second only to Bristol in terms of its 2016 [growth rate](https://www.financedigest.com/automotive-gas-charged-shock-absorbers-market-worth-will-reach-us-2-9-bn-in-2021-grow-at-overall-compound-annual-growth-rate-cagr-of-5-0-between-2021-and-2031.html "Automotive Gas Charged Shock Absorbers Market worth will reach US$ 2.9 Bn in 2021, grow at overall compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.0% between 2021 and 2031"), and is widely believed to be ready to overtake it during Q1 2017. The 8.9% year on year rise in prices experienced in Manchester is a result of a significant lack of [supply](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-rises-to-7-year-high-as-turkey-outage-adds-to-tight-supply-outlook.html "Oil rises to 7-year high as Turkey outage adds to tight supply outlook") – something which all UK cities are struggling with thanks to urbanisation and a rise in popularity of city centre living. Liverpool, with 21.57% of households renting privately (or living rent-free) according to Centre for Cities, is also enjoying a property [market boom](https://www.financedigest.com/anti-static-foam-packaging-market-booming-segments-investors-seeking-growth-2030.html "Anti-static Foam Packaging Market Booming Segments; Investors Seeking Growth 2030"). Prices there rose by 3% over the last three months – the [highest rate](https://www.financedigest.com/atomic-spectroscopy-market-market-is-expected-to-show-the-highest-growth-rate-during-the-forecast-period-2022-to-2025.html "Atomic Spectroscopy Market market is expected to show the highest growth rate during the forecast period 2022 to 2025") of any UK city analysed by Hometrack. Factor in rent rises as well and it’s easy to see why both Liverpool and Manchester are key UK locations for [property investment](https://www.financedigest.com/the-hidden-costs-of-property-investment.html "The Hidden Costs of Property Investment") from overseas buyers (as well as from domestic investors). Rents rose by 1.2% in the North West over the past year, according to the Office for National Statistics, but [regional variations within the area’s cities resulted in much higher rises](https://www.financedigest.com/rising-demand-for-packaged-processed-food-in-the-apac-region-drives-the-growth-of-batch-rotary-dryers.html "Rising Demand for Packaged & Processed Food In The APAC Region Drives The Growth of Batch Rotary Dryers") in urban locations. According to Jones Lang LaSalle, rents in Manchester city centre rose by around 11% in 2016. ![The best and brightest cities of 2017 - who's ready for Brexit? -3](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/3-1-1736844224050-compressed.jpg) In Manchester, it is city centre apartments like those at [Barrel Yard](http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011-R3UTg-ikjtGz9E5x3Ii6DDcB5OGifhmh9lUn9S7beWNGVxacSC5wnwRy_OGL8OnJyN_PhZB3l6DrVYA-jAUwieKHGHZiDnYapeoB_CAiXKyMCbVwA4RFRTEv44I7aSPgeWX4no4hM0mRi74JHPSAnZYUfKnOHZFL43FP5NE8YA8QYzoHRxu6IYrsRdJipkv3weWZBHmr1wuFy0r7pmMgOkcWEkcj-b&c=se6Rm5-mVaxsV-yXVBOpHwrQR3UGGWRwQ8aawCWvpUV_2j7nmwQ6uA==&ch=Egc1Wv_kcKGmESdEQ5NBpc3spOk4jTk3guFAv7kEIo0Ko9oLqFhtRQ==) which are attracting considerable attention currently. The [brand new development offers](https://www.financedigest.com/why-insurers-have-started-listening-to-what-sonic-branding-has-to-offer.html "Why insurers have started listening to what sonic branding has to offer") stylish apartments from £165,000 and smart townhouses from £240,000. Jones Lang LaSalle has projected that Manchester [house prices](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-house-prices-fall-by-most-since-2009-higher-rates-to-bite-nationwide.html "UK house prices fall by most since 2009, higher rates to bite-Nationwide") will grow by 4.5% per year for the next five years, while HSBC has identified the city as one of the top four buy-to-let hotspots in the country, reporting rental yields of 7.6%. In Liverpool city centre, the just-released penthouse apartments at [Victoria House](http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011-R3UTg-ikjtGz9E5x3Ii6DDcB5OGifhmh9lUn9S7beWNGVxacSC53C3_YhEcMe3WBaH-uMhNTBfZmWXRpHX97rWNC_cUM6fvhI7kjqBgbGy0Jtxsvs2nPMt5em3uVOgFTell782nxCTxyHI1nq3Iz_Ke-ispUm7ZtslbsxQdDoV-acC4hzCm7QYG2O6LeLicGJ7W6vvZ4RcpfN25RvheTojTRnP5tuuYBNUZ-hfX30=&c=se6Rm5-mVaxsV-yXVBOpHwrQR3UGGWRwQ8aawCWvpUV_2j7nmwQ6uA==&ch=Egc1Wv_kcKGmESdEQ5NBpc3spOk4jTk3guFAv7kEIo0Ko9oLqFhtRQ==) are attracting buyers looking for something a cut above the average. Completion is scheduled for Q4 2017, meaning that investors can look forward to enjoying rental returns of around 7-10% by the [end of the year](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-stocks-to-pare-some-heavy-losses-by-year-end-reuters-poll.html "Russian stocks to pare some heavy losses by year-end – Reuters poll"). Prices start from as little as £66,250. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---