Mayoral Development Corporation for Oldham

Overview

Greater Manchester is a rapidly growing city region, and with that growth comes the need for modern employment spaces and high-quality homes. This consultation on the proposed Oldham Mayoral Development Corporation sets out the proposals that will play a central role in delivering the Oldham Vision by supporting a thriving and resilient community through the ‘Live Well’ model. A Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is a statutory body created to bring forward the regeneration of a defined area, bringing together stakeholders across public and private sectors to ensure its success. They have powers to acquire develop, hold, and dispose of land and property. They also have powers to facilitate the provision of infrastructure.

Anchored by the proposed Health, Sport Science and Innovation Campus within the £70m SportsTown masterplan, the programme would place health, education and wellbeing at the heart of regeneration. The campus, along with investment in the town centre, better access to education, improved cultural spaces and more sustainable transport, would help tackle important issues that affect people’s health and wellbeing, such as housing, education and how connected communities feel.

Projects like improvements to Tommyfields Park, heritage-led regeneration, a more vibrant town centre and evening economy, low‑carbon heating and the Northern Roots urban farm and eco‑park would encourage people to be more active, support mental wellbeing and help create a more inclusive local economy so residents can live healthier, happier lives. These plans will play a key role in delivering the Greater Manchester Strategy 2025–2035 vision of a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life.

Establishing the Oldham Mayoral Development Corporation would amplify the profile of Oldham both regionally and nationally to attract future investment, demand and growth. It would provide a single organisation to lead and coordinate regeneration across the area, acting as a clear point of contact for residents, partners, developers and investors. It would also help bring different projects together, making sure plans are joined up and deliver the best possible results. It would also provide a long-term strategic vision and programme for the Town Centre, demonstrating commitment to delivery to provide developer and investor confidence.

The proposed Oldham MDC boundary is shown in the map above. It would consist of SportsTown which surrounds the area around Boundary Park, down to Oldham Town Centre, around Alexandra Park and covers Northern Roots to the south. The proposed area within Oldham presents a remarkable opportunity to create one of Greater Manchester’s most significant investment and regeneration initiatives. This transformative project would dramatically enhance economic performance and quality of life for the local area.

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.

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