Potential property goldmine as Manchester congestion charge pushes business out of town.

Land and property owners outside Manchester’s proposed congestion charge zone could be sitting on a goldmine, according to a leading property and construction lawyer.

Rebecca Simpson, Commercial Property solicitor of Cheshire law firm SAS Daniels says that as soon as the congestion charge zone and fees are ratified by government, demand for land and property outside the M60 is likely to increase significantly.

SAS Daniels has offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Congleton, Bramhall and Chester.

“There are many factors, but primarily businesses will want to do anything they can to retain staff,” said Rebecca Simpson, a partner of SAS Daniels.

“The cycle of business and the economy is such that by the time the proposed congestion charge is introduced, the UK economy is likely to be in ascendency once again, and it will be an employees’ job market.

“Not everyone will take to bicycles or public transport to get to work within the M60 boundary, and there is widespread disbelief that public transport will be either ready or up to required standards or capacity anyway given the track record of this country on such matters.

“The staff at a typical ‘outer congestion charge zone’ business employing, say, 50 people will accrue congestion charges of something like £5,000 a month.

“The employer cannot and will not pay that, the employees will not want to pay that, and competitor businesses just yards outside the congestion zone will suddenly have a distinct advantage drawing in vital staff in a period of almost certain economic growth.

“The common sense option is to move outside the congestion zone.

“However, there will be a domino effect: if businesses of that size move out, then so too do the even smaller businesses relying upon their trade: sandwich delivery, corner shops, service and supply businesses, small retail and so on.

“We anticipate wise property investors will be quietly and carefully picking off prime sites and properties to cater for this likely change in trend.”

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Further information:
Iain Macauley or Megan Codling
07788 978800 / 07795 848586
im@pressrelations.co.uk / mc@pressrelations.co.uk / www.sasdaniels.co.uk

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Further information: Iain Macauley or Megan Codling 07788 978800 / 07795 848586 im@pressrelations.co.uk / mc@pressrelations.co.uk / www.sasdaniels.co.uk