Greater Manchester is setting out ambitious new plans to drive growth across Bury and Rochdale with a new Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC).
The Northern Gateway MDC would be part of Atom Valley – bringing together world-class research, advanced manufacturing and materials together in one of the largest opportunities for job creation in the country.
Atom Valley is a vast cluster across Oldham, Rochdale and Bury with the potential to create 20,000 jobs, deliver 7,000 new homes, and boost the local economy by £300m each year.
The Northern Gateway is the biggest site in Atom Valley, allocated for the development of 1.2 million square metres of employment space and 2,750 new homes.
MDCs are a unique tool that Greater Manchester can use to bring together local partners and drive forward our ambitions to build new homes, bring jobs and investment, and support economic growth.
They are statutory bodies, set up by the Mayor, designed to speed up development and attract investment within a specific area. They can take on broad powers including land acquisition, planning and infrastructure functions.
This joined-up approach to regeneration means that Greater Manchester can deliver well-connected developments, with the right transport links and infrastructure to support thriving communities – helping us to meet our Housing First mission to deliver 75,000 new homes in this parliament.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“The Northern Gateway offers an unparalleled opportunity to drive investment and turbocharge innovation here in Greater Manchester.
“We want to make sure we seize that opportunity and capture the benefits for communities across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, and beyond – and that’s what a new Mayoral Development Corporation can do.
“Stockport has shown that when we bring together partners and put our devolved powers to work, we can bring new homes, jobs, and infrastructure to our town centres.
“It’s a model that is now set to be expanded across the town – and one that we believe can also help us deliver the biggest sports-led regeneration project since London 2012 in Old Trafford.”
The proposals for the Northern Gateway follow the success of the MDC in Stockport, which has so far attracted £600 million in private investment and delivered 1,200 new homes, 170,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, and a new transport interchange.
Now, plans are being put forward to expand the Stockport MDC across the east of the town, where there is the potential to deliver new affordable homes, supporting town centre living throughout all stages of life.
The Northern Gateway is part of the North East Growth Corridor, one of Greater Manchester’s six key growth locations – nationally significant sites with the greatest potential to boost the regional economy and bring benefits across all 10 boroughs.
Greater Manchester Leaders are also backing proposals for an MDC to deliver new homes, jobs, and growth around the Trafford Wharfside area, which is part of the Western Gateway growth location.
The Western Gateway also covers the area around Old Trafford, which has the potential to deliver biggest sports-led regeneration project since London 2012, unlocking 48,000 new jobs,17,000 new homes, and adding a £7.3bn boost to the UK economy.
