Mish Liyanage – Property Expert

For me, the Northern Powerhouse has never just been a political soundbite. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebalance the UK economy — and property is absolutely central to making that happen.

As someone who’s spent decades working across the Northern property market, from Liverpool and Manchester to Salford and Bolton, I’ve seen first-hand how the built environment can transform local economies.

Homes, offices, student accommodation, and mixed-use developments aren’t just buildings — they’re the foundations of jobs, education, community, and confidence.

Property: The Real Powerhouse Catalyst

If we want to unlock Northern growth, property has to lead the way. It drives regeneration, attracts investment, and gives people a reason to live, work, and build in our towns and cities.

When you improve housing stock, infrastructure follows. Businesses take notice. Skilled workers stay. Families settle. Students invest their futures here. It’s a chain reaction — and property is always the spark.

But for that to work, we need stability and vision. Too often, property investors and developers in the North face inconsistent funding, stop-start government policies, and slow planning systems. That stifles momentum and discourages long-term confidence.

The Housing Challenge — and Opportunity

Right now, the North is sitting on one of the UK’s biggest housing opportunities. Demand for quality, affordable homes — particularly in the private rental sector — continues to grow, yet supply simply isn’t keeping up.

At Mistoria Group, we see this gap daily. Tenant demand is outpacing available stock, and landlords are exiting the market due to higher costs, increased regulation, and uncertainty. That creates both a problem and an opening.

Investors who understand the dynamics — and take a professional, well-managed approach — can find strong, sustainable returns in areas that still offer real value. Cities like Liverpool, Salford and Bolton continue to deliver far better yields than comparable Southern markets, and their growth potential remains significant.

Collaboration and Confidence

If the Northern Powerhouse is to truly succeed, collaboration is key.
Property markets don’t operate in isolation — they rely on transport, education, and employment ecosystems.

Manchester’s success story proves that coordinated leadership works. But we now need that same energy across the wider region — from Warrington to Wigan, Preston to Birkenhead. Aligned housing strategies, joint regeneration frameworks, and consistent investment zones will ensure momentum isn’t confined to one postcode.

For investors, developers, and local authorities, the opportunity lies in working together — aligning goals and planning for the long term rather than reacting to short-term policy shifts.

A Northern Future Built on Property

The truth is simple: if we want the Northern Powerhouse to thrive, property must be treated as the economic backbone, not an afterthought.

When we create well-planned, well-managed, and well-located housing and commercial spaces, everything else follows — jobs, education, investment, innovation, and pride of place.

That’s why, at Mistoria, we’re not just investing in buildings. We’re investing in communities, regeneration, and the long-term prosperity of the North.

Because when property flourishes, the region flourishes — and the Northern Powerhouse finally lives up to its name.