GMCA and Rochdale to pursue MDC for Middleton
With approval in principle given, officers will work up more detailed proposals for a mayoral development corporation driving regeneration in a town centre “that has been left behind”.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s meeting on Friday considered a report from Manchester Leader Cllr Bev Craig and Tom Stannard, portfolio lead for economy, business and inclusive growth.
The MDC could cover up to 200 acres, and look to take forward ideas set out in Rochdale Council’s Middleton masterplan of 2022. The local authority’s cabinet gave its backing in April.
Cllr Craig told the meeting; “This is a really good example of making sure we do everything we can to get behind places that have got a plan. What Rochdale have done with their 2022 masterplan shows their commitment.”
GM Mayor Andy Burnham said he welcomed the report, and improving places that, to use the phrase of Rochdale Leader Cllr Neil Emmott, “”once prosperous towns that have been left behind”.
Burnham continued: “Approving this in principle is symbolic, and shows that we’re getting on with levelling-up places by ourselves. There’s a logic here in linking with the work happening in Victoria North, and more development in Middleton will in turn strengthen the case for better transport connectivity.”
As set out in the report, Middleton suffers from development constraints, market failure and viability issues typically associated with brownfield, town centre sites.
Fragmented land ownership and limited council holdings limit what the market can deliver and how council intervention can unlock development.
Projects such as the refurbishment of Warwick Mill into 300 apartments, the improvement of the shopping centre and adjacent sites to revivify the area, and the redevelopment of Middleton Arena incorporating health and youth services are all mentioned.
An MDC, as set up by GMCA for Stockport Town Centre West in 2019, would give the focus, coordination and consistent delivery and broadened powers to accelerate development.
Powers to acquire, offer financial assistance, plan-make and offer discretionary rates relief are among the tools an MDC can wield.
The model is also being rolled out into Stockport Town Centre East, while plans are also in the works for Old Trafford and at Northern Gateway, the masterplan area where Rochdale and Bury both have a stake.
The main topic now is to identify the scope of the single site that will be covered. Next steps as far as exploring an MDC’s establishment include
- Governance arrangements, including board composition
- Resources available to the MDC, principally staff
- Devolved powers, including planning and CPO powers
- Arrangements for the statutory consultation on the MDC.
Options for alternative delivery routes will be explored to confirm the most appropriate route to delivering Rochdale Council’s objectives, the report said.
Middleton will never undergo redevelopment it seems. Stories like this come up every few years
By Anonymous
What about the old Providence Church ?
By Mike Goldsmith
Rochdale Council have been promising to develop Warwick Mill for years now and nothing has ever come of it in the meantime it has been left to crumble and rot together with all the listed buildings in Middleton. People are sick of Neil Emmott grandstanding and giving us nothing!
By Anonymous
Seem very few population in Middleton area, the most build is old and tired those area never facelift building and Re-development in Middleton North Manchester.
By G J Kitchener
Middleton has been in decline ever since it become part of Rochdale MBC in 1974; joining Manchester would have been a better option. Since then most investment has been concentrated in Rochdale to the detriment of other towns in the authority, and whilst a MDC is a positive step forward there’s a need for some bold, transformative initiatives that will make a real difference. A start could be made by making a FIRM commitment to extend the tram network to Middleton, one of the few towns in Greater Manchester without a train link.
By Anonymous
The Arena should be used for the youth 12 to 16 there should be something like the Cuvic back in the 70s ..it’s was the place kids looked forward to for what was a disco back in the day.
Somewhere to hang out dance meet your mates.
Nothing like this in Middleton
Let’s give the kids a break .
We had it all disco youth clubs. Clubs
By Yvonne Baxendale