Partners to adopt 1,600-acre Northern Gateway vision
Billed as the largest employment-led mixed-use development in Greater Manchester, the scheme is expected to create more than 21,000 jobs and nearly 13m sq ft of employment space in both Bury and Rochdale.
The 1,600-acre Northern Gateway site, which sits north of the M62 and east of the M66, forms a key part of the Atom Valley Mayoral Zone, created to promote high-tech industries, innovation, and economic growth in the area.
To be approved by Bury Council next week, the Northern Gateway supplementary planning document will establish a framework against which future planning applications on the site will be considered.
A week later, Rochdale Council is also expected to approve the scheme.
In addition, plans for the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation in partnership between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Rochdale and Bury Councils have been put forward to better reflect the regional and national significance of the site.
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The MDC would then be the preferred delivery vehicle for the Northern Gateway.
Furthermore, 1,200 homes, a primary school, travel hubs, green space, and a local centre are all planned. A hotel with conference facilities will also be built.
The promotion of active travel is one of the elements of the SPD for Northern Gateway. Credit: via Rochdale Council
Multifunctional green infrastructure with active travel routes will serve the area, allowing for low-carbon and safe commutes.
The entire project is expected to take more than 20 years to deliver.
Cllr Neil Emmott, Leader of Rochdale Council, said: “The Northern Gateway, as part of the wider Atom Valley, presents us with a transformative opportunity to rebalance the Greater Manchester economy and bring thousands of high-quality jobs, improved transport links to surrounding areas, and increased prosperity to the Rochdale borough and beyond.”
Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council, said the SPD was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to encourage investment and job creation, adding the area will “play a crucial role in building prosperous communities in Bury”.
This year, Bury Council confirmed that Balfour Beatty had been selected to begin constructing road access to the 1,600-acre site.
