tony what you are saying is ridiculous
1) manchester is in parts deprived (just like peckam etc etc)
2) many of your ex bbc colleagues have lined my pockets since moving to salford
3)cheshire is probably pound for pound much richer than most of london (except maybe central and west london)
4) because of cheaper prop prices in general people up here have more spare cash
I dont disagree with those four points.
What you did not mention is that its generally considered there are few job opportunities in heating in Manch.
Those that are will be based on subsistance charges!
Even Iron Naz, 130 miles further south who was going to rid Cov of all the cowboys, found his "reasonable" prices for fitting a bathroom suite ( £130 ? ) were too high for that area!
The BBC move to Salford was not what most of the staff wanted. The BBC spent a fortune on travelling costs for those who would not move and driving VIPs from London! I seem to remember their boss was less that definate when asked if he was also moving home!