MIPIM | Bolton and Wigan launch NorthFold growth corridor
Working with GMCA and developer partner Peel Land, the local authorities envisage delivery of 9,000 homes, 3.7m sq ft of industrial space, and 312,000 sq ft of offices by 2035.
Launched today at MIPIM, the partners said that the search is now on for investors to take on 1m sq ft of development that will transform the area into an international sports and leisure destination, a hub for health and food innovation, and a model for sustainable housing development.
A vital part of the aspiration is the planned East-West Link Road that would both improve connectivity and open up a stack of development sites.
NorthFold is underpinned by six catalyst projects and a pipeline of infrastructure investment.
Catalyst projects include:
- Bolton town centre: A £1bn masterplan to create 5,000 new town centre residents with a mix of retail, leisure, hospitality and employment space
- Wigan town centre: Creating a destination that combines shopping with leisure, major projects include Wigan Galleries, Cotton Works and ultimately Wigan Station Gateway
- Haigh Hall: The historic country house is being transformed into a nationally significant arts, culture and heritage destination
- Hulton Park: This 700-year-old estate being restored with new homes, a hotel, retail, sport, leisure and community facilities, with potential to host the 2035 Ryder Cup and other major events
- Health Innovation Bolton: NorthFold’s primary health innovation zone specialising in wellness and preventative medicine
- NorthFold Food Innovation Centre: Potential to become a national cluster for food innovation and advanced manufacturing, building on existing strengths of big names like Heinz and Warburtons
A fully completed east-west link would, said the partners, provide a reliable new route across Wigan and Bolton, unlocking access to NorthFold’s many housing and employment sites.
Together with A577 complementary works, expected within 18 months of the link road, the improved road network will encourage more active travel and bus journeys.
Bolton Council’s director of place, Jon Dyson, said: “NorthFold is one of the most significant investment opportunities in Greater Manchester, so it is only right that an announcement of this scale was made at MIPIM in front of an international audience of investors and developers.
“The public launch follows years of hard work to develop the clear pipeline of six catalyst projects that will build real confidence in the market.
“The growth location is an unprecedented collaboration between Bolton and Wigan councils alongside GMCA and, with Peel Land already on board, we look forward to welcoming more partners to the fold.”
Aidan Thatcher, director of place at Wigan Council said: “There’s never been a better time to invest in Wigan, with significant funding already secured and regeneration schemes under way, to help us realise our ambitious growth plans.
“In January Wigan was named a property hotspot, with house prices rising at 5% per year and rental yields increasing, demonstrating confidence in Wigan’s growth and regeneration plans.
“NorthFold represents a great opportunity to be a part of our exciting future, capitalising on all the great things already happening in the borough.”
Stephen Wild, managing director of Peel Land, said: “Greater Manchester has always been one of the most forward-looking regions of the UK and the vision for NorthFold further builds on this reputation.
“Centred on a strong location between Bolton and Wigan together with equally strong collaboration between public and private sector parties, we look forward to realising it’s potential – delivering significant areas of housing, innovative workplaces with high quality employment, a leading leisure destination capable of hosting international calibre events and a health innovation campus.
“This will help deliver opportunities and positive legacies for Wigan, Bolton and Greater Manchester as a whole.”
- Read more from MIPIM 2025 on Place North’s MIPIM Hub
This is great news but both Wigan and Bolton need a metrolink to connect fully to the rest of Greater Manchester.
By Anonymous
The road link is absolutely vital. The road infrastructure especially noticeable in the
east of Wigan borough is utterly unfit for
purpose. The single lane A577, frequently
reduced by road works is more of a bottleneck than a route. Little wonder the
residents east of Wigan town centre do NOT regard Wigan as theirs.
By Steve Hopkinson
You need to try living and driving in Westhoughton to understand how gridlocked our roads already are. The infrastructure and GPs etc need sorting first not as an afterthought.
By Net
The proposal to build on Hulton Park is just not good for the area. The infrastructure cannot cope – the roads between Bolton and Atherton already get gridlocked and shortage of medical support in the area.
By Giacinto Barberio
People complaining about traffic congestion constantly on this website. Stop whining and do something about it then – get a bike. You don’t get stuck in traffic when you’re on a bike. And by the way if you’re driving AND complaining about traffic then you’re a fool. You ARE traffic.
By Anonymous
a world class golf venue in Greater Manchester is a terrific plan. Go for it Bolton
By TLJ
Hulton Park is mentioned but that project can only go ahead with the successful application to hold the Ryder Cup..I also would like to ask where are parks and green spaces for the sake of the population health. Health will be drastically affected by all the traffic that will come from.this project.
By Carole Coleman
Together with the other 550 proposed off Bolton Rd in Atherton it’s absolutely madness. No infrastructure to cope with this.
By Alan
The road link it absolutely vital to this. Currently travelling from East Wigan and Leigh have to go up the heavily congested Leigh Road and Park Road in Westhoughton to get to the motorway. Significant investment in a dual carriageway is a must before any more homes are built.
By Nick
Really. How long is Wigan going to rob Atherton and Leigh of money for another “swimming pool” or “shopping center” and dump more and more housing on us with no consideration for local infrastructure? It is laughable at best. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
The only reason Atherton is doing so well is because of the local community. We don’t need more houses. We need the new infrastructure Wigan is getting. Again. Again.
By Anonymous
How do you travel Carole?
If you drive, what about all the residents who live in places that you drive to?
Still care?
By Anonymous
A reliable new route opening up housing , employment, leisure & new open space and delivering good regeneration and better links between these two important northern towns. There is also already a train line between Wigan and Bolton although a metro tram train would be a welcome addition . Sounds great, I can’t understand some of the comments made. Hope it happens soon.
By Alf Full
‘Haigh Hall: The historic country house is being transformed into a nationally significant arts, culture and heritage destination’ meanwhile Heaton Hall in Manchester continues to sit empty and dilapidated despite being located in the largest park in Manchester City Council’s ownership and despite receiving revenue from large scale events being held there. MCC need to take notes.
By Anonymous