Hat-trick of Greater Manchester mayoral development corporations advance

A consultation on new regeneration powers for Middleton, Oldham, and Ashton and Stalybridge will begin shortly.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority met last Friday to progress plans to set up mayoral development corporations aimed at progressing projects that could transform the three parts of the city region.

Buoyed by the success of Stockport’s MDC, which has accelerated the residential-led regeneration of the town centre, leaders across GM want a piece of the action to bring their own development visions to fruition.

Ashton and Stalybridge MDC

Focused on the rail corridor that runs between the two Tameside towns, an MDC for Ashton and Stalybridge could help to deliver 3,000 mixed-tenure homes as well as commercial space.

Last week, Tameside Council also signed off on a deal to acquire two sites in Ashton town centre as part of its regeneration efforts.

Oldham MDC

In Oldham, the MDC would focus on the delivery of housing across its brownfield town centre sites and the £70m SportsTown initiative.

With Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park at its centre, the SportsTown project would “transform Oldham into a multi-sport centre of excellence that integrates education, sport, health, wellness and community regeneration”, according to a GMCA report.

The scheme features plans for a new indoor arena for Manchester Thunder netball team.

Middleton MDC

To be co-chaired by actor Steve Coogan, the Middleton MDC will spearhead a community-led regeneration of the actor’s hometown.

The MDC will have power over roughly 200 acres including the town’s shopping mall, Mills Hill train station, and the grade two-listed Warwick Mill.

Rochdale Council believes Middleton is ideally located to capitalise on the catalytic impact of Atom Valley – the proposed 17m sq ft employment development in the north of Greater Manchester that is also earmarked to benefit from MDC powers.

These powers include:

• The provision of new infrastructure

• Powers to hold, acquire, develop, improve, or regenerate land and buildings

• Powers to provide financial assistance

• Subject to a decision of the relevant LA, plan-making and development control powers can be delegated to an MDC, resulting in its own planning committee

• Subject to a decision of the relevant local authority, powers can be delegated to grant discretionary business rates relief.