Mayoral Development Zone to be created in Rochdale and Bury
Atom Valley will stretch out along the M62 in the North East Growth Corridor and includes Kingsway Business Park, South Heywood and the Northern Gateway employment site.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has given his support to the initiative.
Being designated a Mayoral Development Zone means that an area will receive support from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in establishing strategic frameworks and securing development funding.
At Atom Valley, the GMCA’s involvement will help create a tram-train link into Heywood, a Metrolink extension to Middleton and bus services that link Heywood and Manchester. There will also be walking and cycle routes developed.
“The MDZ is an example of how the council, the Mayor and Transport for Greater Manchester can work together with the private sector to deliver these environmentally sound plans to make our borough thrive,” said Rochdale Council’s cabinet member for economy and communications, Cllr John Blundell.
“Atom Valley will be the heartbeat and lifeblood for surrounding areas – we are committed to making it a huge success,” Blundell continued.
Part of the Atom Valley vision is to regenerate Heywood and Middleton Town Centres while also creating a manufacturing innovation cluster. Plans include the Advanced Machinery and Productivity Institute.
The goal for Atom Valley is to bring thousands of high-quality jobs and homes to Rochdale and Bury.
“Atom Valley Manchester is a once in a generation opportunity to create a major centre for advanced manufacturing in Rochdale and Bury,” Blundell said.
“As the largest growth location in Greater Manchester, Atom Valley will see universities and companies come together to harness cutting edge technology and create thousands of highly skilled jobs within our borough.
“Atom Valley will also boost ongoing regeneration plans in our town centres and provide first-class infrastructure, as well as better public transport connections so our residents can access these jobs,” he continued.
“It will provide new neighbourhoods and high-quality homes for our residents so they can stay and prosper here and those wanting to move to the area.”
Earlier this year, Tameside received its own MDZ. Ashton Mayoral Development Zone includes St Petersfield, Ashton Moss and Ashton Town Centre.
Having a vision for Greater Manchester and not just City of Manchester is the most important achievement Andy Burnham leadership.A stronger Greater Manchester also means in long run a richer city of Manchester as it is the center of then a richer city region.
By Bob Jones
These areas all have some really attractive semi-rural areas. I would rather live in Simister or Bowlee than somewhere like Stretford or Old Trafford. GM is Britain in miniature. A poorly served and funded North and a relatively well served South, particularly around transport.
By Elephant