Views sought on Northern Gateway MDC
Greater Manchester wants to create its next Mayoral Development Corporation to drive forward the largest allocation in the 17m sq ft Atom Valley.
Northern Gateway, for which outline plans for the first phase were lodged last week, is earmarked for 12m sq ft of employment space and 3,000 homes.
Majoring on two allocated sites, the Northern Gateway is seen as the engine to drive economic development in GM’s northern boroughs. GMCA is targeting 20,000 new jobs and £1.1bn growth for its economy.
The sites are located around the M60, M62 and M66, as the Combined Authority looks to super-charge development. The new homes will include affordable homes, while improvements to local amenities and infrastructure also come into the equation.
GMCA said that the plans follow the success of the MDC model in bringing regeneration and growth to Stockport, where there are now ambitions to increase the size of the MDC towards the east of the town centre, delivering a further 1,200 new homes and employment space.
Consultation on the merits of creating an MDC for Northern Gateway is now open and will run until Sunday 8 June. Feedback received will inform a final decision in the summer on whether or not to proceed with the plans.
- You can view the consultation here
The Northern Gateway sites sit within the wider Atom Valley, which confers broader Mayoral Development Zone status across three areas – Northern Gateway, Kingsway Business Park, and Stakehill.
An MDC involves the formation of a regeneration-focused company, with statutory responsibilities, to drive forward development in specific locations.
The strategic Northern Gateway sites are centred on two allocations from the pan-GM Places for Everyone spatial development plan, the industrial-led Heywood-Pilsworth and residential-led Simister-Bowlee.
Once consultation is completed, a GM Mayor’s report will go forward for Cabinet level sign-off at Rochdale and Bury councils and GMCA, before going to the Secretary of State.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “The Northern Gateway offers an unparalleled opportunity to drive investment and turbocharge innovation here in Greater Manchester.
“We want to make sure we seize that opportunity and capture the benefits for communities across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, and beyond – and that’s what a new Mayoral Development Corporation can do.”
Get it built!
By A Smith
If almost everywhere becomes a MDC in GM then what’s the USP of each area? Where are the running costs of them all coming from?
By Anonymous
The new regional development agency? …. same playbook different name. Will be interesting how it operates on here with two private debvelopers, landowners and various options on land holdings etc and how far the MDC will go with their powers to drive this forward and capture the benefits suggested.
By Lee Penseur
Reap what you sow. Nobody wanted a Mayor especially Andy Burnham. Manchester is already dying and totally gridlocked.
By Gary Booth
“Dying and totally gridlocked!” 😂 what sort of cognitive dissonance has to demonstrated to write this sort nonsense about one of Europe’s fastest growing cities. I think the old adage ‘read more type less’ applies here.
By Anonymous
Andy Booth – not sure how you feel you can speak for the whole of Greater Manchester. I am a GM resident and I welcome the introduction of a mayor which has brought great regeneration and public transport benefits. I suggest that if you don’t like the current mayor you can vote for someone else when the post comes up again for election. Manchester is far from dying it’s actually vibrant and dynamic.
By Anonymous
Manchester is neither dying nor totally gridlocked get a grip man
By Anonymous
Dying and gridlocked – make it make sense
By Barrington
This has been going on for too long – just get on with it.
By Anonymous
Andy Burnham has won three elections – two with a landslide. Gary, what makes you say nobody wanted him?
By Anonymous
Nobody wanted Andy Burnham? Manchester is dying? OK.
By HSR
That’s a biiig development. Great news for Manchester. As for gridlocked, well that’s what public transport is for so use it.
By Anonymous
If there’s one place outside of London that’s dying, it’s not Manchester. Hence the gridlock.
By Try harder babe
Manchester dying? If Manchester is dying I dread to think what the rest of the country is going through.
By Elephant.
Manchester is not as busy as it was 20 years ago, that’s for sure
By Anonymous
On the one hand Manchester is Gridlocked and there’s way too much development and on the other ‘Manchester is not as busy as it was 20 yrs ago ..Where do they get these people from ? I thought they were only allowed crayons 😂
By Anonymous
Schools and doctors are essential along with the houses and factories.
By Anonymous