Greater Manchester is setting out ambitious plans to accelerate regeneration and economic growth through the creation of three new Mayoral Development Corporations in Bolton, Oldham, and Ashton and Stalybridge.
The new MDCs will sit alongside several high‑profile regeneration bodies already established in the region, helping to deliver new homes, revitalised town centres, cutting‑edge sporting facilities, modern transport links and major employment opportunities.
MDCs are statutory bodies, established by the Mayor, designed to speed up development, unlock investment, and bring together local partners.
Greater Manchester describes them as innovative tools for building new homes – including affordable housing – attracting private investment and supporting sustainable economic growth.
Greater Manchester’s first MDC, launched in Stockport in 2019, has already delivered 2,700 new homes, attracted £600 million in private investment, and created new employment space in the business district. Alongside those, it has enabled the development of Stockport Interchange and transformed the historic Weir Mill into a new neighbourhood.
Last week saw the formal launch of the Old Trafford Regeneration MDC, which will lead the UK’s biggest sports‑led regeneration project since the London 2012 Olympics. It will deliver:
- 15,000 new homes
- 48,000 jobs
- A new 100,000‑seat stadium for Manchester United
- A £7 billion boost to the national economy
Meanwhile in Middleton, a new MDC chaired by Rose Marley (Chief Executive of Co‑operatives UK) and actor‑writer Steve Coogan will champion local growth in partnership with Rochdale Council and local communities.
Greater Manchester is now putting forward proposals for three additional MDCs in Bolton, Oldham, and Ashton and Stalybridge.
A Bolton MDC would accelerate regeneration across multiple sites, with these supporting high‑quality regeneration anchored around Bolton’s £48m Transport Interchange.
Oldham’s proposed MDC would turbocharge the £70 million SportsTown masterplan, turning the area around Boundary Park into a multi‑sport centre of excellence. This comes with Oldham sitting within the North East Growth Corridor, spanning Oldham, Bury and Rochdale.
A Tameside MDC would create a national model for transport‑led regeneration, making full use of publicly owned land to deliver new homes, improve transport, and support growth.
Greater Manchester’s devolution deals and collaborative working model have powered 3.1% annual economic growth since 2015. The city region launched a UK‑first 10‑year Integrated Pipeline last year, backed by the £1 billion Good Growth Fund, identifying the highest‑impact projects in housing, jobs and regeneration.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:
“Over the past decade, Greater Manchester has been the fastest growing economy in the UK – but we know that growth has not been felt equally in all parts of our city region.
“Our number one priority is to deliver a new decade of good growth that lifts all of our places, and the proud communities that call them home.
“That’s why we’re backing Bolton, Oldham, and Tameside with plans for new Mayoral Development Corporations – so they can remove barriers to development and bring forward new homes, jobs, and community assets for generations to come.”
The Mayor also recently unveiled plans to establish five growth‑driving clusters to reindustrialise Greater Manchester and create the high‑skilled, high‑value jobs of the future.
Image credit: iStock
