The £300m skyscraper that shows Covid hasn't stopped Manchester's property boom

direct to your inboxManchester city centre has seen a 480 per cent increase in the number of people claiming universal credit in just five months, it has emerged.A report that went before the council's economic scrutiny committee on Thursday paints a bleak picture of the impact of coronavirus restrictions on Manchester this year.And, in particular, the wide range of concerns in the city centre from vanishing footfall to fears about trade in 2021.In many ways, the data included in the report from

most recent available data.At its peak, the area had 238 confirmed positive tests in the week ending September 29 as the virus spread rapidly through the student population.It's infection rate at the time reached 2,201.1 per 100,000.Only Poynton East and Poynton West on the Stockport - Cheshire border recorded less than three cases in the same week.Meanwhile, the area referred to in government statistics as 'Hulme and University' had just 22 cases in the week ending November 24.The

I AM, formerly the Autistic Society of Greater Manchester, says they have heard of delays approaching three years.

straight to your inbox every day for freeGood morning, Manchester United fans. Here are your morning headlines for Saturday, November 28.Ferguson praises Rashford’s philanthropy Former Manchester United United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Marcus Rashford following the striker’s campaigning during the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus infection rates are falling faster in Greater Manchester than at any time during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest data from Public Health England.The rate for the Greater Manchester region is now 246.9, the lowest it has been since the end of September.There were exactly 7000 confirmed cases in Greater Manchester for the week ending November 23, which is 3,796 fewer cases than in the previous week.That represents a week-on-week fall of 35.2 per cent, the highest

Local Democracy Reporting Service .

The latest infection rates for Greater Manchester are:Oldham 366.9, down 31pcRochdale 342.2, down 32pcWigan 301.2, down 27pcBury 300.5, down 33pcBolton 294.6, down 32pcSalford 246.5, down 42pcManchester 245.3, down 32pcTameside 241.1, down 36pcStockport 204.5, down 36pcTrafford 169.4, down 45pcThe national average in England is 202.4 per 100,000 population.Trafford is the only Greater Manchester borough to sit below the national average with 169.4 per 100,000.There were 661 positive tests across

straight to your inbox every day for freeManchester United have accepted the government's decision to place Greater Manchester in the Tier 3 category of regional COVID-19 restrictions.Regions in Tier 3 are listed as 'very high alert' and means United cannot welcome up to 4,000 supporters back inside Old Trafford for next week's Champions League visit of Paris Saint-Germain.Fans could be present for United's trip to West Ham next weekend - which is yet to be assigned a kick-off time and date -

The latest infection rates for Greater Manchester are:Oldham 388.4, down 30pcRochdale 360.6, down 31pcBury 314.1, down 33pcBolton 306.4, down 31pcWigan 304.6, down 30pcSalford 260.0, down 42pcManchester 249.6, down 34pcTameside 249.4, down 37pcStockport  208.6, down 37pcTrafford 170.6, down 50pc Stockport's transmission rate has dropped below the national average too, with a rate of 208.6 - down 37pc in the week ending November 21.Overall, rates are falling faster in every Greater Manchester

hereMeanwhile figures presented to the city’s last executive meeting, earlier this month, show footfall in the city centre was less than half that of the same time last year.

Manchester Evening News has seen an early internal planning document circulated within Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

revised tier system, which will come into force on December 2 when the national lockdown ends, government ministers will impose the top level of restrictions on the highest risk areas.Previously, ministers had entered into discussions with local leaders over the what measures would be needed and how they would be funded.In Greater Manchester, mayor Andy Burnham led several days of intense talks as he tried to negotiate a more substantial financial package than the one the government had

Public Health England (PHE) data shows that the spread of infection across all 10 boroughs continues to fall.

according to the M.E.N’s analysis of yesterday’s figures, with some dropping by more than a third in that time. Trafford's have seen a particularly substantial reduction, having almost halved since October 23.

Public Health England (PHE) on Sunday.

hereWhen police managed to get inside after opening a number of locked doors they found a crowd of people.A total of 17 fixed penalty notices were issued to those at the gathering.

here“Crews were in attendance for around two hours and fifteen minutes.” Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here. And you can follow us on Facebook here.

A Manchester NHS doctor has become the first person in the world to be recruited for the final stage trial of a coronavirus vaccine.By also receiving one of the first doses, Dr Claire Cole is at the vanguard of a 'phase 3' Covid-19 study testing the safety and effectiveness of a new two-dose vaccine.Dr Cole, Head of Research Delivery at Manchester University NHS Foundation, is one of 6,000 volunteers in the UK, and of 30,000 worldwide, being recruited for the study, taking place at 17 National

Like all other modes of public transport, bus usage has been hit hard by the pandemic with passenger levels dropping by around half.But bosses say bus patronage recovered more quickly than than others.A central part of funding the bus franchising scheme is the mayoral precept, a part of council tax which goes towards paying for regional services that fall within Mr Burnham’s remit.Taxpayers already pay £3 towards a year towards bus reform as part of their preceptBut this will rise progressively