Levelling Up the North: Promise, Progress or Political Fantasy?
Levelling up has been a defining policy ambition, but what does it really mean for the North - and how will we know it is working? Hosted by Mark Manning, Managing Director of the Nothern Estate Agency Group, this session will explore what levelling up should deliver in practice, from economic growth and infrastructure to housing, affordability and opportunity. The panel will assess progress so far, asking what has genuinely changed on the ground and where challenges remain. Focusing on the reality of delivery, the discussion will examine where levelling up gets stuck, what the key blockers are - including planning, infrastructure and funding - and where effort should be focused to achieve tangible results. The session will conclude by challenging panellists to set out what needs to change in the next 12 months to turn political ambition into practical delivery.
Speakers
Mark Manning - Chair
Mark Manning is Managing Director of Manning Stainton, Ryder & Dutton and Mortimers, and a second-generation leader of a long-established family business in the UK property sector. He has built his career from the ground up across residential sales and lettings, with a strong focus on delivering the best possible client outcomes across Yorkshire and the North West. Mark has been instrumental in the growth of the business, helping transform it into a successful multi-brand, multi-office agency network that includes Manning Stainton, Ryder & Dutton, Mortimers and Fine & Country. Since stepping into senior leadership, he has led expansion through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Known for combining commercial discipline with a sharp understanding of brand and local market positioning, he consistently champions modernisation while protecting the values at the heart of the business. A firm believer that exceptional businesses are powered by exceptional people, Mark places talent development at the centre of the group’s strategy. He has overseen major investment in training, culture and leadership pathways, and is particularly proud of the number of colleagues who have risen through the business under his guidance. Mark is also passionate about community impact. He has driven major fundraising initiatives for Macmillan Cancer Support and supports local organisations and projects that strengthen the communities his businesses serve. Based in Leeds, Mark enjoys golf, travel and time with friends and family. He brings the same energy, humour and people-first outlook to life outside work as he does to leading the group.
Richard Irving
Richard has over 30 years experience in planning consultancy. In 2005 he founded ID Planning along with Jonathan Dunbavin. Richard has an in depth knowledge and expertise in the assessment of site development potential, the preparation of planning and development briefs and the submission and negotiation of all forms of planning application. Richard has excellent knowledge of planning law and so can provide advice on all aspects of planning related matters, and acts for housebuilders, developers, landowners and other national and local commercial businesses. In his free time Richard is a very keen golfer, enjoys fine wine, real ale, food and spending time with his family, though not necessarily in that order!
Julia Dacre Field
Julia Dacre Field leads our residential development team in Leeds and is widely acknowledged for her expertise in residential development, strategic land, PRS and regeneration. Julia acts for house builders, promoters, landowners and public bodies on residential development, strategic land assembly, regeneration schemes and mixed-use projects. She specialises in complex high value multi-party transactions. Julia is valued for her straight-forward, solution led approach to transactions. Julia uses her many years of experience to resolve complex problems and achieve positive outcomes for all parties.
Ed Whiting
Ed was born and grew up in Leeds and started as Leeds City Council’s Chief Executive in January 2025. Ed has spent most of his career in the Civil Service, including as part of the Financial Stability Unit of HM Treasury through the 2008 to 2009 financial crisis, and at No10 Downing Street between 2014 and 2016. Between 2016 and 2022, Ed was Director of Strategy at the Wellcome Trust, where he led the creation of a new strategy to solve the urgent health challenges of infectious disease, mental health and the impact of climate change on health.
Kevin Hollinrake MP
Kevin Hollinrake is the Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015. He currently undertakes the role of Chairman of the Conservative Party. Before politics, Kevin was a businessman, starting estate agency chain, Hunters, in York in 1992. When he sold the business in 2021 it had 210 offices around the UK.
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