Powers awarded to new statutory bodies are set to speed up schemes in Bolton, Oldham and Tameside
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has announced plans to accelerate major regeneration projects with three new mayoral development corporations (MDCs).
MDCs are statutory bodies set up by the mayor, which can take on broad powers to speed up infrastructure delivery processes such as land acquisition and planning.
A GMCA spokesperson said the MDC’s also act as a “single ‘front door’ for the private sector”, providing certainty for investors.
The announcement follows the successful establishment of other MDCs in Stockport, Old Trafford and Middleton.
GMCA is now proposing to set up MDCs for Bolton, Oldham and Tameside, but has not said when.
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said the MDCs would “remove barriers to development and bring forward new homes, jobs, and community assets for generations to come.”
In Bolton, a new MDC would support regeneration plans at sites like Church Warf – a 415-home neighbourhood approved in October 2025 as well as 150-home Crompton Place in Bolton town centre and Trinity Quarter, providing 160 residential units and office space next to the town’s transport interchange.
It would also bring forward the development of the NorthFold growth location, which aims to deliver 9,000 new homes between Bolton and Wigan by 2035. It is one of Greater Manchester’s six growth locations included in its 10-year plan for enhancing investment and development in the region.
In Oldham, the MDC would support the £70m Sports Town masterplan, including new sports, health, education, and community facilities centred around Boundary Park. It would also build on the 2000-home regeneration of Oldham town centre with development partner Muse.
In Tameside, an MDC for Ashton and Stalybridge would help deliver at least 3,000 new homes via a transport-led regeneration blueprint. The train line within the proposed MDC would be one of the first to be brought into the Bee Network – GMCA’s integrated public transport network.
Greater Manchester’s first MDC in Stockport, launched in 2019, is delivering 2,700 new homes, £600 million in private investment, and new employment space in the town’s business district. It has also seen the development of the new Stockport interchange and the transformation of the historic Weir Mill into a new neighbourhood.
The Old Trafford Regeneration MDC was established last week, which will drive forward 15,000 new and a new 100,000-seater stadium for Manchester United.
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