Office take-up activity in Manchester fell in Q2 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Manchester Office Agency Forum (MOAF).
A total of 184,477 sq ft of office space transacted across 48 deals in Q2 2026, down on the 261,547 sq ft recorded in Q2 2025.
Q2 take-up of 144,079 sq ft in the Salford Quays/Old Trafford area was the strongest quarterly performance since Q3 2018, exceeding the 141,993 sq ft transacted during that quarter. Activity in Salford Quays/Old Trafford in Q2 rose considerably on Q1 2026 when only 35,554 sq ft of deals were recorded.
Matt Lee, partner at Carter Jonas said: “The number of Manchester city centre deals in Q2 remains broadly consistent with last year, demonstrating resilient occupier demand, despite a reduction in overall take-up. We expect demand to strengthen after the summer, with occupiers continuing to prioritise high quality space and wider regional locations continuing to play a key role in the Manchester office market. The formation of No 10 North alongside an increased national focus on devolution provides further reasons for confidence in Greater Manchester’s growth prospects and opportunities across the region.”
Oliver Woodall, director at Edwards, added: “Despite the decline in Manchester city centre activity in Q2, the wider regional markets experienced quarter-on-quarter growth, with Salford Quays and Old Trafford emerging as the strongest-performing areas. This resilience suggests that, despite ongoing economic uncertainty, demand has remained robust in key regional locations as occupiers continue to seek value and flexibility outside the city centre.”
