Greater Manchester has set out proposals to establish three new Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs) aimed at accelerating regeneration, housing delivery and economic growth across Bolton, Oldham, and Ashton and Stalybridge in Tameside.

The new MDCs would be created by the Mayor of Greater Manchester and designed to spearhead major regeneration projects, town centre renewal, transport-led development and new sporting infrastructure.

What Mayoral Development Corporations deliver

MDCs are statutory bodies established to speed up development and attract private investment within defined geographic areas. They can bring together local authorities, public bodies and private partners, acting as a single point of contact for developers and investors.

Their powers can include land acquisition, planning and infrastructure delivery, providing long-term certainty and reducing barriers to development. The approach is intended to support housing delivery, including affordable homes, alongside job creation and sustainable economic growth.

Track record of MDC-led regeneration

Greater Manchester’s first MDC, launched in Stockport in 2019, is delivering 2,700 new homes, £600m of private investment and new employment space in the town’s business district. It has also enabled delivery of the Stockport Interchange and the transformation of Weir Mill into a mixed-use neighbourhood.

Last week saw the formal establishment of the Old Trafford Regeneration MDC, described as the UK’s largest sports-led regeneration project since London 2012. The scheme is expected to deliver 15,000 new homes, 48,000 jobs, a 100,000-seat stadium for Manchester United and a £7bn boost to the UK economy.

Bolton MDC proposals

In Bolton, a new MDC would support regeneration across several multi-use brownfield sites, including:

  • Church Wharf, delivering homes, leisure, office and retail space with support from GMCA brownfield funding

  • Crompton Place, a residential-led mixed-use redevelopment in Bolton town centre

  • Trinity Quarter, creating a new residential neighbourhood adjacent to Bolton’s £48m Transport Interchange

The MDC would also support development of the NorthFold Growth Location, one of Greater Manchester’s six designated Growth Locations designed to spread investment and opportunity across the city region.

Oldham MDC and SportsTown regeneration

In Oldham, the proposed MDC would help accelerate delivery of the £70m SportsTown masterplan, transforming the town into a multi-sport centre of excellence centred around Boundary Park.

The plans include new sporting, health, education and community facilities, infrastructure upgrades and job creation. The MDC would also build on existing town centre regeneration with development partner Muse, alongside the Northern Roots project. Oldham sits within the North East Growth Corridor, alongside parts of Bury and Rochdale.

Transport-led regeneration in Tameside

In Tameside, an MDC covering Ashton and Stalybridge would focus on creating a national model for transport-led regeneration, maximising the value of publicly owned land and transport infrastructure.

The proposals aim to deliver at least 3,000 new homes and support economic growth between the two town centres. The railway line within the proposed MDC area is set to become one of the first to be integrated into the Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s integrated public transport system. Both towns sit within the Eastern Growth Cluster Growth Location.

Mayor sets out growth ambitions

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham 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.”

Greater Manchester’s devolution arrangements have supported average annual economic growth of 3.1% since 2015, alongside the launch of a UK-first 10-year Integrated Pipeline for growth, underpinned by a £1bn Good Growth Fund.

Local authority support

Bolton Council Leader Cllr Nick Peel said the MDC would help accelerate town centre regeneration, including the flagship Crompton Place redevelopment, and reinforce Bolton’s role within the Greater Manchester Strategy.

Oldham Council Leader Cllr Arooj Shah described the MDC as an opportunity to unlock investment and translate regeneration into “jobs, homes, better health and stronger life chances”.

Tameside Council Leader Cllr Eleanor Wills said an MDC would help unlock the potential of Ashton Moss, St Petersfield and Ashton town centre, while creating a national exemplar for transport-led regeneration.

Good Growth Fund developments move forward

Alongside the MDC proposals, Greater Manchester confirmed progress on two major schemes backed by the Good Growth Fund:

  • Adelphi Village, Salford – delivering 336 apartments including social and affordable housing

  • Prince’s Gate, Oldham – a town centre scheme delivering 2,000 new homes over the next decade

Both developments have now secured the legal arrangements required to move on site, following earlier support from the Brownfield Housing Fund.