Atom Valley could create in the region of 20,000 jobs. Credit: Google Earth

GMCA to approve business case for 17m sq ft Atom Valley 

One year on from the establishment of the mayoral development zone, the creation of an advanced materials “mega cluster” is due to take another step forward this week.

Since the formation of the Atom Valley MDZ – a vehicle aimed at guiding the delivery of 17m sq ft of employment space across North Manchester growth locations – work has been going on behind the scenes to draw up workstreams for 2023/2024.

The business case sets out what the MDZ will attempt to achieve in the next 12 months. The focus of the first Atom Valley business plan is the Advanced Machinery & Productivity Institute, seen as a catalyst for the creation of a new innovation district at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale.

AMPI, designed by Fairhursts Design Group, aims to support the proposed growth of the UK’s machinery manufacturing sector. The project, currently at RIBA stage three, is being led by Rochdale Development Agency. 

It is hoped work could start on site in March 2024, according to the business plan.

“The success of AMPI is closely linked to the upskilling and reskilling of local communities to ensure they have the skills required from future businesses associated with AMPI and its industry clusters,” the plan states.

Overall, Atom Valley will aim to deliver 17m sq ft of employment space across three key growth locations, as well as linking residents in nearby towns including Oldham, Heywood, Radcliffe and Middleton to the newly created jobs. 

Stretching along the M62 growth corridor, the employment sites within Atom Valley are Northern Gateway, Stakehill, and Kingsway Business Park.

As well as employment space, up to 7,000 new homes could be delivered within Atom Valley. 

Ultimately, the formation of an MDZ is part of a targeted and proactive approach by the combined authority to improve the northern part of Greater Manchester.

“Overall, Atom Valley presents the biggest opportunity in Greater Manchester to attract inward investment and long-term economic growth, focusing on advanced materials and the manufacturing sector,” according to the business plan.

The MDZ board, chaired by Paul Ormerod, an economist and visiting professor in the Computer Science department at University College London is made up of: 

Andy Burnham – Mayor of Greater Manchester  

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien – Leader of Bury Council 

Lynn Ridsdale – chief executive of Bury Council 

Cllr Arooj Shah – Leader of Oldham Council  

Harry Catherall – chief executive of Oldham Council  

Cllr Neil Emmott – Leader of Rochdale Council  

Steve Rumbelow – chief executive of Rochdale Council  

Lynda Shillaw – chief executive of the Harworth Group 

Dr Peter Thompson – chief executive of the National Physical Laboratory  

Gareth Russell – joint managing director of Russells  

Andrew Russell – joint managing director of Russells  

Richard Jones – vice-president for regional innovation and civic engagement at the University of Manchester 

Your Comments

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“Atom Valley”? What a daft name! Is that somewhere in France, or what? What has that got to do with Lancashire? It is as daft as calling a Manchester station “Piccadilly”. Every body worldwide knows that “Piccadilly” in in London.

By Anonymous

The atom was split in Manchester. Clearly Anonymous does not know his/her own history.

By Elephant

Piccadilly is in London? There are are many Piccadilly’s not just those two. Just because it’s in one place doesn’t mean it a name can’t be used anywhere else. It’s just geography and history really. Hope that helps.

By Humphrey

For accuracy, Atom Valley isn’t a Mayoral Development Corporation, an MDC is a specific legal entity defined by statute, with additional powers. An MDZ is whatever the Mayor wants it to be, but with no additional powers.

By Local Interest

John Dalton, a Manchester man, in 1830 was the first person to publish the atomic theory and in 1917 the atom was first split at Manchester University. Is that enough reason to call it Atom valley?

By Anonymous

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