The regeneration of Middleton has taken a major step forward, with the announcement of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC).
The MDC is to be helmed by famous actor and comedian, Steve Coogan, who hails from the town, and Rose Marley, chief executive of Co-operatives UK.
Mayoral Development Corporations use Greater Manchester mayoral powers to help boost the development of an area and attract additional investment to drive regeneration.
Steve Coogan, who grew up in Alkrington and has since achieved global success as an actor, comedian, screen writer and producer, said:
“Middleton is a town I want to help because it’s helped me. It was a great place to grow up and it did a lot for me. Middleton is really rich in history, the history of people power, and it has a great civil rights history, with social reformers like Sam Bamford coming from this area. It’s a place which has a strong sense of its own identity. I’ve done lots of live shows around the country and you get the best reaction from towns that know who they are, and Middleton people have got a sense of themselves.
“The Mayoral Development Corporation is a very exciting opportunity for me to put back into a community that was very good to me and helped me in my early years. I feel I owe the people of Middleton a debt. That’s why I’m happy to be involved and talk to people in Middleton and ask them what they want and what they need.”
Rose Marley, who grew up in North Manchester, said:
“Middleton has a great cultural and musical heritage and Middleton people stand up for what they believe in. There is a real character and sense of community here.
“The Mayoral Development Corporation is a model that’s been utilised in other areas to bring investment to an area. And once you start bringing in investment, whether that’s public or private, community-based investments, then you can have a vision and you can have a plan and everybody can galvanize around that, whether it’s transport, housing, or cultural spaces. We’re keen to consult and work with the people of Middleton to make sure that it’s being delivered in line with their needs and desires. As Rochdale is the birthplace of the co-operative movement, we’re keen to run the Middleton MDC along co-operative values, to ensure that everyone has a voice and the wealth is distributed as closely as possible to where it is generated.”
