Northern Gateway Mayoral Development Corporation public consultation

Greater Manchester is a rapidly growing city region, and its businesses need space to grow. Northern Gateway is a collection of sites with development plans to provide space suitable for high-quality domestic and international businesses, including those operating in the advanced manufacturing and materials frontier sector. This will drive significant investment into the local area and create high-quality jobs.

It is essential that this development is coupled with delivery of new homes, new and improved transport infrastructure and local amenities to ensure that local people can benefit from this transformational change.

Delivering such an ambitious project is far from straightforward; it will need the co-operation of stakeholders across public and private sectors to ensure its success. The Greater Manchester Mayor has been working closely with Bury and Rochdale Councils, where the Northern Gateway sites are located, to rise to this challenge.

The already established Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) is a significant initiative in Greater Manchester aimed at fostering economic growth and innovation and spans Bury, Rochdale and Oldham. The MDZ promotes connectivity and collaboration and aims to create new employment opportunities and housing growth, supported by sustainable transport solutions.

To support the realisation of the shared vision for the area, and further develop the work of the MDZ, the Greater Manchester Mayor has decided to consult on the creation of a regeneration company called a Mayoral Development Corporation.

The proposed “Atom Valley Northern Gateway” MDC boundary occupies a strategic location adjacent to the M60, M62 and M66. The boundary has been drawn to include proposed developments and areas where infrastructure is expected to be delivered in support of these.

A Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is a statutory body created to bring forward the regeneration of a defined area, bringing together a co-operation of stakeholders across public and private sectors to ensure its success. They have powers to acquire develop, hold, and dispose of land and property. They also have powers to facilitate the provision of infrastructure.

The MDC model has been used successfully in London and in Stockport and would be run by a Board that includes local democratically elected Members along with independent development experts to ensure a balance between accountability and technical expertise.

In Greater Manchester, we have developed a model that would allow us to harness the potential MDCs have to bring about large-scale regeneration while ensuring they fit with our unique local circumstances and don’t create unnecessary bureaucracy.

The MDC’s operating model would be to work with those property owners, investors, and developers who are interested in Northern Gateway’s potential to realise the opportunity that the development of the area offers. It will work to raise the profile of Northern Gateway and secure the benefits to local people and businesses arising from its development.

Northern Gateway includes developments that are anticipated to deliver 1.2 million square metres of employment floorspace, around 3,000 new homes, including affordable homes, and improvements to local amenities and infrastructure.

These include the Places for Everyone strategic allocations JPA 1.1 (Heywood/Pilsworth) and JPA 1.2 (Simister/Bowlee).

The GM Mayor’s report on the responses to this consultation will be taken to Bury Council’s and Rochdale Council’s Cabinets and the GMCA for approval. Assuming support for the proposal, the Mayor will then notify the Secretary of State who would establish the “Atom Valley Northern Gateway Mayoral Development Corporation”, likely in the Autumn.

While MDCs are able to acquire land using compulsory purchase powers, the GM model seeks that acquisitions will be negotiated by agreement wherever possible.

We would urge anybody that is concerned about potential CPO or that is interested in selling their property within the MDC area to talk to a member of the team about their individual case.

Northern Gateway is strategically located close to the M60, M62 and M66, offering excellent access to the Greater Manchester city region and the North more widely.

Improved transport connections, including public transport and active travel, are integral to the major developments planned for the area.

Alongside new homes and employment properties, development proposals include a a new local centre with an appropriate range of convenience shopping facilities and a primary school.