Developer and ex-council leader clash over Manchester's land deal with Man City owners
A 2015 deal gave Abu Dhabi United Group, owner of Manchester City, first pick of council land in Ancoats and New Islington. A developer called it a "sweetheart deal", while former council leader Sir Richard Leese and the council say it benefited the city.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A 10-year contract signed in 2015 gave Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), the company that owns Manchester City, preferential access to land the council had set aside for development in Ancoats and New Islington, according to GB News, which cited reporting by The Mill. GB NewsR “Under a 10-year contract signed in 2015, ADUG was given preferential access to land ring-fenced for development by the council.” Read at GB News ↗ BBC NewsN “A deal struck in 2015 saw ADUG effectively given the first pick of land in Ancoats and New Islington.” Read at BBC News ↗ Right · 1GB News reported that the council had to give ADUG a "right of first refusal" on land it wanted to sell there, and that any agreed development had to be carried out by Manchester Life, a joint venture between ADUG and the council. GB NewsR “it meant the council had to give "right of first refusal" to ADUG on land it wanted to sell around Ancoats and New Islington.” Read at GB News ↗ Right · 1One major North West property developer told The Sunday Times, as relayed by GB News, that it was "a sweetheart deal" under which ADUG got "the red carpet treatment where other British-based developers are not", and that it "did hold some of us back". GB NewsR “"This is a sweetheart deal between Abu Dhabi and Manchester City Council.” Read at GB News ↗
Centre · 1The BBC reported that the council and ADUG formed Manchester Life in 2014, planning to invest more than £1bn over a decade and build thousands of homes. BBC NewsN “The council entered into a partnership with ADUG in 2014 when they formed a joint venture called Manchester Life.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1A 2022 University of Sheffield report, Manchester Offshored, questioned the public value of the schemes and their lack of financial transparency. It noted that no affordable housing was included and that the joint venture companies were ultimately owned by ADUG through offshore firms. It argued that land was leased to ADUG at "below comparable rates". BBC NewsN “But in 2022, a report by the University of Sheffield, called Manchester Offshored, raised questions about the wider public value of the schemes” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1Sir Richard Leese, council leader for 25 years until 2021 and honorary president of the club, defended the deal. He said it was "brokered by the UK government with the UAE government" when development had stalled after the 2008 crash, and that Abu Dhabi's investment "is what created the value". He acknowledged there was and is criticism that the land was given away too cheaply. BBC NewsN “Sir Richard said the 2015 deal was "brokered by the UK government with the UAE government".” Read at BBC News ↗
Mixed · 2Manchester City Council said claims that the deal was not good for the city had been "debunked repeatedly". It said there was "zero market interest" in the land when it was sold and that the council receives a financial return through profit-sharing. A council source told GB News the venture delivered a £1.25bn regeneration programme. BBC NewsN “"The claim that working in partnership with Manchester City's owners has not been a good deal for the council or the city has been debunked repeatedly,"” Read at BBC News ↗ GB NewsR “was able to offer a scale of investment that delivered a £1.25billion programme of regeneration” Read at GB News ↗ Mixed · 2The scrutiny follows the Premier League finding City guilty of 115 charges. These include a disguised funding scheme in which the owners were said to have topped up sponsorship deals with more than £800m of their own money. City denies wrongdoing and is appealing. BBC NewsN “the club had been found guilty of 115 charges, including some around a so-called disguised funding scheme” Read at BBC News ↗ GB NewsR “City has consistently denied any wrongdoing, with its appeal set to be considered by a separate Appeal Board under Premier League rules” Read at GB News ↗ Mixed · 2Prime Minister Andy Burnham, formerly Greater Manchester mayor, said he would be "really concerned" to lose the owners. Downing Street later said no one was "above the rules". Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson told GB News that Burnham should publish details of his meetings with the owners. Downing Street said Burnham has not met City's owner since taking office in July. GB NewsR “Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister has not met City's owner since taking office in July.” Read at GB News ↗ BBC NewsN “said he would be "really concerned" if the owners were to pull out of the club.” Read at BBC News ↗
Mixed · 2GB News said the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the council both say they have no active partnerships with ADUG. The BBC reported that the UAE may halt UK-wide investment schemes worth billions of pounds after the ruling. GB NewsR “Today, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the council both say they do not have any active partnerships with ADUG.” Read at GB News ↗ BBC NewsN “it has been reported that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may halt UK-wide investment schemes worth billions of pounds” Read at BBC News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- BBC News leads with Sir Richard Leese defending the deals as good for the city, and adds history and the council's rebuttal.
- Emphasis
- The 2008 crash context, Abu Dhabi's investment and delivery, the council's profit-sharing, and the University of Sheffield criticisms.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the developer's "sweetheart deal" claim or that rival developers say they were held back.
- Charged language
- “debunked repeatedly”
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- GB News presents the deal as a "revealed" scandal of preferential treatment and links it to political pressure on Burnham.
- Emphasis
- The developer's complaint, the "right of first refusal", the Labour council and Burnham's links to the owners, and a Reform UK quote demanding transparency.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little of the economic context (the post-2008 stall) or the council's detailed rebuttal. It does not mention the Sheffield report.
- Charged language
- “red carpet treatment”“sweetheart deal”“Revealed”“cheated their way to success”“come clean”
What every side reports
- A 2015 deal gave ADUG effective first pick of land in Ancoats and New Islington.
- Manchester Life is a joint venture between ADUG and Manchester City Council.
- Man City was found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, denies wrongdoing and is appealing.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham praised the owners' contribution to Manchester.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the land deal was fair and good for Manchester
- Centre
- The BBC gives Leese's and the council's defence: the deal kick-started stalled development, there was no market interest, and the council gets profit-share. It also reports the Sheffield report's criticisms, including below-market land rates.
- Right
- GB News leads with a developer's claim of a "sweetheart deal" and "red carpet treatment" that held back other developers, with a council source's defence lower down.
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Contract start date
- Centre
- The BBC says the partnership began in 2014 and the land deal was struck in 2015.
- Right
- GB News says a 10-year contract was signed in 2015.
Richard Leese person
Says the deal was good for Manchester and kick-started stalled development. He accepts the criticism that the land went too cheaply, but says Abu Dhabi's investment created the value.
“"I think it has been demonstrated that the deal was a good deal and a good deal for Manchester."” — BBC News
Abu Dhabi United Group organisation
ADUG is the beneficiary of the deal and, in the coverage, does not comment directly. It is described as owner of the joint venture companies through offshore firms.
“the joint venture companies were ultimately owned by ADUG through firms registered offshore.” — BBC News
Manchester City organisation
The club denies wrongdoing and is appealing the Premier League ruling. It claims proof that Etihad's money came from the Abu Dhabi Government, not ADUG.
“The club claims it has proof that Etihad's money came directly from the Abu Dhabi Government, not ADUG.” — GB News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Ex-Manchester leader defends deals with Man City owners
Neutral Reports Leese's and the council's defence of the deal alongside the criticisms and the Premier League background.
Right1 article
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GB NewsR ·
Revealed: Manchester's 'red carpet treatment' for Man City's Emirati owners
Critical Frames the land deal as preferential treatment of Emirati owners and ties it to pressure on Burnham.
- 4 Oct 06:40 First GB NewsR Revealed: Manchester's 'red carpet treatment' for Man City's Emirati owners
- 5 Oct 16:25 +33h 44m BBC NewsN Ex-Manchester leader defends deals with Man City owners
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.