Key Points
- The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has given its approval for mayoral development corporations (MDCs) for Oldham, Bolton, Middleton, and Ashton and Stalybridge.
- According to Dan Whelan of Place North West, the decision came last Friday as the corporations are meant to aid regeneration in the northern part of Greater Manchester.
- This move was made during a GMCA meeting held at Wigan Town Hall last Friday, September 25, as per the Oldham Chronicle.
- The four proposed MDCs will cover an area of around 3,340 acres in all.
- The plans together include the creation of about 8,500 new homes – 2,000 in Oldham, 2,000 in Bolton, 1,500 in Middleton, and 3,000 in Ashton and Stalybridge.
- For Oldham, the MDC is related to the £70 million SportsTown development of the boundary park around Oldham Athletic.
- As far as Bolton is concerned, the proposed development plan includes the redevelopment of Crompton Place into a £200 million mixed-use project.
- The Middleton MDC, on the other hand, is associated with the redeveloping of the Warwick Mill and town center improvements.
- For Tameside, the MDC for Ashton and Stalybridge is termed as transport-led and includes the redevelopment of the Ladysmith Shopping Center.
Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 28, 2026 — Greater Manchester Combined Authority has approved the creation of four further mayoral development corporations, extending the regeneration model used in Stockport to four town-centre and corridor areas across the city region. As reported by Dan Whelan of Place North West, GMCA gave the go-ahead on Friday for MDCs intended to accelerate regeneration and “turbocharge” development across the north of Greater Manchester.
The decision covers Oldham town centre, Bolton town centre, Middleton town centre, and the Ashton and Stalybridge corridor in Tameside. It follows approval of the Stockport mayoral development corporation, which Place North West describes as a precedent for the latest wave of designated regeneration bodies.
What has GMCA approved?
According to the Oldham Chronicle, the region’s council leaders approved the new MDCs at a GMCA meeting held at Wigan Town Hall on Friday, September 25. The proposals will now be sent to the Secretary of State to begin the formal process, with the newspaper reporting that the corporations are expected to be officially launched in early 2027.
The Manchester Evening News reported that Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig and GMCA sanctioned the new corporations for Oldham, Bolton, Middleton, Ashton and Stalybridge. It described the bodies as collaborative regeneration entities designed to help local areas expedite major projects and attract public and private funding.
Place North West reported that the four areas together cover roughly 3,340 acres. The publication set out the proposed boundaries, major projects and expected outputs for each corporation.
What does the Oldham MDC cover?
The Oldham town centre MDC covers approximately 2,000 acres. Place North West reported that its boundaries run from Broadway in the north to Higginshaw Road in the east, Park Bridge Road in the south and Oldham Way in the west.
The corporation is expected to deliver 2,000 homes across six sites and a new sporting hub for the city region. Its major identified project is the £70 million SportsTown redevelopment of land around Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park.
The Manchester Evening News reported that the Oldham plans prioritise regeneration in the town centre, including 2,000 homes, improvements to Tommyfield Park and work connected with the recently opened Northern Roots urban farm.
What is planned for Bolton?
The Bolton town centre MDC covers approximately 340 acres. According to Place North West, its boundaries are Topp Way to the north, Orlando Street to the south, St Peter’s Way to the east and College Street to the west.
The corporation is expected to deliver 2,000 homes, 333,000 sq ft of employment space, 300 hotel beds and serviced apartments, and 150,000 sq ft of food and beverage floorspace. Place North West identified the redevelopment of Crompton Place into a £200 million mixed-use scheme as a major project.
The Oldham Chronicle reported that Bolton’s programme includes 13 key projects. It said these are expected to deliver up to 2,000 homes, 31,000 sq m of employment space, 300 hotel beds and serviced apartments, 14,000 sq m of food and beverage space, and more than 5,000 sq m for community and leisure uses.
How will Middleton change?
The Middleton town centre MDC covers approximately 200 acres. Place North West reported that its boundaries are Parkfield Drive to the west, Mellalieu Street to the north, the Caldervale railway line to the east and Wince Brook to the south.
The Middleton MDC is expected to deliver 1,500 homes, a stronger town-centre commercial and leisure offer, and improved public spaces. Place North West identified the redevelopment of Warwick Mill as a major project within the area.
The Oldham Chronicle reported that more than 90 per cent of survey respondents supported the Middleton scheme. The corporation is intended to create 1,500 new homes, strengthen the town’s commercial and leisure offer, and improve public space.
What is planned in Tameside?
The Ashton and Stalybridge MDC covers approximately 800 acres. Place North West reported that the area is bounded by Wren Close to the west, Stocks Lane to the east, Park Road to the south and Lordsfields Avenue to the north.
The corporation is expected to deliver 3,000 homes and employment space supported by enhanced transport connectivity. Place North West identified the redevelopment of Ladysmith Shopping Centre as a major project; it reported that Tameside Council acquired the centre earlier in 2026.
The Manchester Evening News described the Tameside corporation as “transport-led”, saying it is intended to support about 3,000 new homes, including affordable housing, and improve transport connections to Manchester. It reported that the aim is to encourage economic growth from the city centre into the Tameside commuter belt.
Why are MDCs being used?
Mayoral development corporations are designed to speed up development and attract investment, according to GMCA’s own guidance. GMCA lists Bolton Town Centre, Oldham, Middleton, and the Ashton–Stalybridge Corridor among the areas where it has committed to establish MDCs or zones to accelerate regeneration.
The model gives a designated regeneration body a focused role in coordinating development, land assembly and investment within a defined area. The Manchester Evening News reported that the new bodies are intended to help local areas accelerate major projects and secure funding from both public and private sources.
What happens next?
The GMCA approval is not the final step in the legal process. The Oldham Chronicle reported that the proposals will be sent to the Secretary of State to begin formal designation, with official launches anticipated in early 2027.
GMCA’s decision records show earlier stages in the process: in March 2026, GMCA endorsed consultation exercises for proposed MDCs in Oldham, Middleton, and Ashton and Stalybridge. The authority’s decision records also show that the GM Mayor approved the designation of the Oldham Mayoral Development Corporation on September 2, 2026, after considering consultation results.
For Ashton and Stalybridge, the Mayor approved designation of the mayoral development area subject to GMCA approval, according to a published decision record. The latest GMCA meeting therefore represents the city-region-level approval referred to in that decision.
Background of the development
Mayoral development corporations are part of Greater Manchester’s wider planning and regeneration approach. GMCA states that the corporations are intended to accelerate regeneration and deliver benefits to residents sooner, and it has identified the Bolton, Oldham, Middleton and Ashton–Stalybridge areas among its planned MDCs and zones.
The process began earlier in 2026. GMCA agreed in principle in January to create MDCs for Oldham and for Ashton and Stalybridge, and authorised officers to explore detailed options with Oldham Council and Tameside Council respectively. In March, GMCA endorsed public consultation on the proposed designations.
Place North West framed the latest approvals as following the success of Stockport’s mayoral development corporation. The report did not provide an independent assessment of that success, but presented the new corporations as an extension of the model to northern parts of the city region.
Prediction: how the MDCs could affect residents and businesses
For residents in Oldham, Bolton, Middleton, Ashton and Stalybridge, the immediate effect is likely to be greater coordinated planning activity in the designated areas, with housing, public realm, transport and commercial regeneration brought under MDC-led delivery frameworks. The published plans identify 8,500 homes across the four areas, alongside employment space, leisure floorspace, hotel accommodation and transport improvements.
For local businesses and landowners, the corporations could make it easier to bring forward larger schemes by providing a single regeneration focus and attracting public and private investment. However, the full effect will depend on the Secretary of State’s formal designation process, subsequent delivery plans, funding arrangements and individual planning decisions. The Oldham Chronicle reports that the corporations are not expected to launch formally until early 2027.
For commuters and businesses in Tameside, the Ashton and Stalybridge corporation’s transport-led focus could be particularly significant. The Manchester Evening News reported that improved links to Manchester are intended to support economic development across the Tameside commuter belt, although the programme’s outcomes will depend on the detailed transport and housing schemes that follow.
