Sir Howard Bernstein, who died earlier this year, has been celebrated at the Bridgewater Hall for his life’s work and achievements for Manchester City Council. He is responsible for the transformation of the city, as we know it today. In the packed event, the great and good of Manchester gathered to give emotional tributes to this remarkable man. At Veritas Surveying, we also recognise his great contribution to the built environment and the changing face of Manchester. 

Born in Cheetham Hill, he got his first job at the Town Hall as a pot washer, aged 17. He soon became a junior clerk and rose through the ranks and become Chief Executive of Manchester City Council from 1998 to 2017. He was responsible for setting development goals and encouraging investment in the city. Current Council Leader Bev Craig said that Sir Howard “served Manchester with remarkable distinction” and ‘leaves an incredible legacy in the transformation of the city.” Former Chancellor George Osborne described him as “the single most important, influential, public official, in any city, in any part of government, local or national over the past few decades.”

A driving force 

By the 1990s Manchester was a city in post industrial decline. The city centre was largely deserted after 7 pm and many buildings were dilapidated or empty. Very few people actually lived in the city centre. Then there was the horrific IRA bombing in June 1996 which destroyed the heart of the city. However, after this devastating event, there was an opportunity to rebuild.

 Sir Howard was determined to halt the decline of the city he loved. He was a driving force behind the changes, which continued throughout his leadership. He was responsible for the city centre’s resurgence after the bomb and was integral to its growing success. He knew that an excellent transport network was vital for economic growth and expanded the Metrolink tram system. He also put Manchester on the world stage when he was instrumental in bringing the Commonwealth Games to the city in 2002. Not an easy task. He was also proud of his work in the regeneration and rebuilding of Hulme: a district which had become synonymous with hard-to-let council flats and heroin by the 1980s. The Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre was another Bernstein triumph

A lifelong City fan

A lifelong football fan, Sir Howard was also honorary president of Manchester City Football Club, who also paid tribute to his “incredible life of public service.” The Etihad stadium and the redevelopment of east Manchester over the last 15 years would simply not have happened without him. City’s chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said “His vision and foresight to use sports-led regeneration to reinvigorate the city was unquestionably the catalyst which set Manchester on the path to becoming the successful city that it is today.” When he retired in 2017 Sir Howard said “Ever since I was a boy I knew I wanted to make a difference to the people of Manchester.” He has certainly achieved this. His optimism and civic pride was his superpower and he believed that “though it may rain, Manchester is always sunny if you know where to look.”

At Veritas Surveying Limited we are proud to provide a high quality service to our clients in Manchester and beyond. Whether you are construction solicitors, main contractors, subcontractors or employers, we can help you if you need specialist consultants in construction claims. We also offer construction expert witness services, project management and quantity surveying services. Stay ahead of the game and contact us today.