Mayoral Development Corporation for Middleton

Overview

Greater Manchester is a rapidly growing city region, and with that growth comes the need for modern employment spaces and high-quality homes.

A Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC)  for Middleton aims to create a positive change to the local area and deliver real benefits for local residents. The focus will be on creating improved places and homes, supporting local businesses, whilst bringing together communities, developers and public partners to deliver regeneration that is shared and built to last. 

The MDC for Middleton would build on the activity that has been undertaken in recent years to improve the Middleton experience. The MDC will use additional powers and resource to deliver this, and most importantly rooted in the local community.    

To support the realisation of the shared vision for the area the Greater Manchester Mayor has decided to consult on the creation of a regeneration corporation known as a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC).

The proposed MDC boundary for Middleton is shown in the map below. It is proposed to focus on bringing forward new development and support the delivery of around 1,500 new homes (including affordable homes), enhancing the towns offer for commercial and leisure uses whilst improving public spaces.   

This would bring visible improvements to Middleton, while helping local people benefit from new jobs, better services and a stronger sense of community- driven with co-operative principles in mind.  

 A Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is a statutory body created to bring forward the regeneration of a defined area, bringing together stakeholders across the public and private sectors. They have powers to buy, develop, hold, and dispose of land and property as well as to deliver key infrastructure. The MDC model has been successfully implemented across the country, including in Greater Manchester most notably in Stockport. In addition to the proposed Middleton MDC, a separate MDC, known as the ‘Atom Valley Northern Gateway MDC’ was recently established in Bury and Rochdale.

The MDC for Middleton is proposed to bring together Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Development Agency, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and, most importantly, the community. Subject to consultation outcomes, the MDC would have a role in supporting the delivery of this regeneration, including the potential to secure funding and buy land. The MDC would work alongside the Council, with the Council retaining responsibility for planning decisions (subject to review in the future). 

As part of the consultation, the public are being asked to consider the name of the MDC, with an option to emphasise the co-operative principles as part of the name. This would not impact the nature of the MDC, as it is a statutory body governed by relevant statutory legislation.

The MDC Board will be set up in a way that ensures residents, businesses and other stakeholders voices are represented and able to influence the decision making for the regeneration programme. The Board will also include local democratically elected members along with independent development experts to ensure a balance between accountability and technical skills. 

The MDC would want to work with property owners, investors and developers to help to deliver the ambitious plans and help to realise the benefits of developing Middleton. 

Proposed Mayoral Development Corporation Area for Middleton

Why your views matter

We believe that a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) would work to secure benefits for local people and businesses and has the potential to turn the vision for Middleton into reality. However, we want to ensure that everyone with an interest in the area has the opportunity to share their views on the MDC proposal. This consultation specifically focuses on the creation of an MDC to support development in the area.

During this consultation, we will gather public comments and opinions on:

• The creation of the Middleton MDC and its name 

• If you think our proposals will help to support development, growth and improvements in Middleton 

• If we’ve got the proposed boundaries of the MDC right, and if not, what we need to consider changing.  

While our preferred method for receiving feedback is through this online platform, alternative ways to share your views are outlined in the FAQ document below.

If you would like more information, need the consultation materials in an alternative format, or wish to access them using a translation service, please contact: engagement@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk