Plans to take forward Greater Manchester’s biggest proposed employment development, which will generate more than 20,000 high-quality jobs and bring a £1bn economic boost, are set to be approved by Bury and Rochdale councils.
Councillors will be asked to adopt a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the game-changing Northern Gateway project. This development of 1.2m square metres of employment space straddles the Bury and Rochdale border close to junction 19 of the M62.
An SPD supports development by establishing planning principles for a particular area, which will be taken into consideration when planning applications are determined. Having an SPD in place can also make it easier to bring in external funding for a project.
The Northern Gateway Development Framework SPD will include details about the site, such as the proposed infrastructure, phasing and timescales, the design principles and the benefits it is expected to deliver.
Councillors will also be asked to endorse a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) as the preferred delivery vehicle for Northern Gateway, to cement the partnership between Bury and Rochdale Councils, and enable the accelerated delivery of the programme, by providing a clear framework and resource arrangements to support. Approval of the name and boundary of an MDC, and subsequently approval to consult on an MDC will also be requested.
Bury Council’s cabinet will consider the proposals on Wednesday 5th March, while the plan will go to Rochdale Council’s cabinet on 18th March.
The Northern Gateway is part of the wider Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone, which aims to create a hub for high tech industries, innovations and economic growth in the North of Greater Manchester. It gives boroughs like Rochdale and Bury a once in a lifetime opportunity to create tens of thousands of well-paid, highly skilled jobs which will substantially boost the local and regional economy.
Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for our borough and Rochdale, bringing jobs, investment and a boost to our local economies. This is another important step towards improving Bury for our future generations and building prosperous communities.”
Councillor Neil Emmott, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The Northern Gateway is a crucial part of the Atom Valley, a once in a generation opportunity to substantially transform the economy of our borough and create thousands of new high-quality jobs, homes and improved transport links. The adoption of a planning framework for the Northern Gateway, alongside the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), both have the potential to further raise the profile of this important project and help it attract even more funding and investment. That’s why we are keen to explore these options, alongside our partners at Bury Council, so we can continue to move this fantastic project forward and really keep the momentum going.”
