Oldham’s Mayoral Development Corporation approved - paving the way for a new era of growth

Oldham is taking a major step towards a new era of growth after plans for an Oldham Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) were approved.

The new partnership between Oldham Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority will create a dedicated vehicle to help unlock investment, bring forward major development and accelerate the delivery of ambitious regeneration plans across the area.  

The MDC will bring together public and private sector expertise around a shared programme of investment, helping to turn Oldham’s plans into delivery and create new opportunities for residents, businesses and investors.  

Its key focus will be on Health, Education and Sport which encompasses some of the biggest opportunities for Oldham’s future, including SportsTown, town centre regeneration, new homes, heritage and cultural assets, Northern Roots and strategic development sites.  

Shelley Kipling, Oldham Council Chief Executive, said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for Oldham and another major step forward in our plans to build a better borough.  

“We have already shown what can happen when we are ambitious and work with the right partners. We have a new market, The Loom, Northern Roots is open, Prince’s Gate is moving forward and we are continuing to transform our town centre.  The Mayoral Development Corporation gives us the opportunity to take that momentum to another level.  

“It will help us bring together the expertise, investment and partnerships we need to unlock major opportunities, accelerate development and make sure Oldham is ready to benefit from the growth happening across Greater Manchester.  

“We want Oldham to be a place where people want to invest, build businesses, raise families and spend their time. This partnership will help us make that ambition a reality.”  

The MDC will provide a focused delivery vehicle for a defined area of Oldham, helping to coordinate land, investment, infrastructure and development opportunities.  

The ambition is to make it easier for developers, investors and partners to engage with Oldham and to help unlock projects that can be more difficult to deliver through existing arrangements.  

The proposed programme includes SportsTown, a major health, sport, education and community development around Boundary Park; further regeneration and investment in the town centre; new homes and strategic brownfield development; heritage and cultural assets; and the next phase of Northern Roots.  

The approach builds on more than £450 million of investment already secured for regeneration across Oldham’s town centre and wider intervention areas.  

It also comes as Oldham's regeneration pipeline gathers pace, with Prince’s Gate already moving forward with 259 affordable homes and plans for up to 2,000 new homes across the wider town centre over the next decade.  

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, has approved the proposed designation following a statutory consultation, with the proposal now progressing through the remaining formal process to establish the MDC.  

The consultation attracted 362 responses, with 83.4 per cent of respondents supporting the creation of an MDC.  

The MDC is expected to become a key part of Oldham’s long-term regeneration programme, helping to ensure the borough is ready to take advantage of future investment opportunities across Greater Manchester.