Greater Manchester sets out trailblazing plan to kickstart a new decade of growth

• Greater Manchester will use its unique devolved powers to pioneer a new way of delivering tens of thousands of new homes and jobs  

• Ambitious plan will target six Growth Locations – nationally significant sites with massive potential to deliver economic growth across all 10 boroughs 

• Growth Location plans include Old Trafford Regeneration Scheme, where public and private sector are spearheading biggest regeneration since London 2012  

• City-region is already UK’s fastest growing economy with most foreign direct investment – and new plan can lock in growth for generations to come 

• Place-based approach will get the whole GM system pulling together to unlock land, attract £10 billion of investment and ramp up regeneration  

• Ten-year plan will ensure GM’s continued success and, with right backing from government, build 75,000 new homes during this parliament 

GREATER Manchester has unveiled an ambitious ten-year plan to turbocharge growth and deliver tens of thousands of new jobs and homes for its residents. 

The city-region already has the fastest growing economy in the UK and has attracted more foreign direct investment than any other UK region.  

Now it's ready to go up a gear and lock in growth for future generations by pioneering a new way of delivering large-scale development and transformative regeneration. 

Proposals published today would see the whole Greater Manchester system mobilised to deliver £1billion of investment every year for the next decade and build homes on a scale and at a pace not seen in the past 20 years.  

At the heart of the plan is the creation of a single pipeline for growth, which would target investment at six Growth Locations across Greater Manchester – nationally significant sites with the highest potential to boost the regional economy and bring benefits to all 10 boroughs.   

Each location has land earmarked and shovel-ready for the creation of new housing and employment sites, which would spread the benefits of economic success across the city-region. 

Last week it was revealed that just one Growth Location scheme could unlock 48,000 new jobs, 17,000 new homes, and add £4.2 billion to the local economy. 

The area around Manchester United’s Stadium in Old Trafford is a key part of the Western Gateway Growth Location, with plans to create new housing, commercial and public space around a new 100,000-seater stadium, or a refurbished 87,000-capacity ground.  

The Old Trafford Regeneration Scheme represents the biggest sports-led regeneration scheme since the London 2012 Olympics.  

Economists say it could transform the area’s fortunes just as MediaCityUK transformed Salford Quays – and give a £7.3 billion boost to the UK economy.  

To drive forward this major regeneration project, Greater Manchester is setting out proposals for a new Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for Old Trafford. 

It would replicate the success seen in Stockport, where the MDC took on powers to acquire and develop land and bring forward new infrastructure.  

Stockport MDC has so far attracted £600 million in private investment and delivered 1,200 new homes, 170,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, and a new transport interchange. 

By harnessing tools like MDCs, tapping in to the city-region's world-leading industries, and paving the way for innovation, Greater Manchester will create a system geared towards driving growth over the next decade.  

Until now, we have had separate pipelines for delivering transport, housing, innovation, and the low-carbon economy.  

Thanks to Greater Manchester’s unique devolved powers and place-based approach, it will be able to target funding at Growth Locations like the Western Gateway and ensure development is sequenced in a way that extracts maximum value per pound.  

Instead of housing being built in an uncoordinated way, the Integrated Pipeline will make sure developments are complementary and have the infrastructure to create thriving, well-connected communities – from green spaces for wellbeing, to great transport links via the Bee Network, and low-carbon heating systems. 

Councils across the city-region will work with the private sector to attract, retain and develop the world’s best regeneration talent through a new GM Academy.  

And Greater Manchester will create a single investment pot to target funding on Growth Locations, using the greater flexibility over its finances agreed as part of its Trailblazer devolution deal with central Government.  

The Greater Manchester investment pot will provide just enough pump-priming to unlock massive private sector investment – an approach which has already delivered 10,000 new homes and supported 8,300 jobs through our Housing Investment Loans Fund.  

And the Greater Manchester Pension Fund – the UK’s biggest local government pension fund – could also invest in Growth Locations. The approach will enable the pension fund to invest over the longer term, in line with Treasury ambitions.  

These two local investments in Greater Manchester’s Growth Locations would give confidence to developers and private sector investors – unlocking game-changing capital for communities across the city-region.  

Each of the Growth Locations has a distinct focus, building on existing sector strengths and opportunities. The Western Gateway covering Old Trafford also includes Port Salford, with plans to capitalise on its connectivity and link new employment sites to the world. 

The North East Growth Corridor includes Atom Valley, where a Mayoral Development Zone is driving the development of an advanced materials and manufacturing hub. Plans for the Airport and Southern Growth Corridor capitalise on the international connectivity of Manchester Airport.  

The Central Growth Cluster will build on the continuing high performance of the city centre growth engine, providing 58,000 new homes on brownfield land and new spaces for businesses, including new innovation districts at Sister and Crescent Salford, and major regeneration projects like Victoria North and Holt Town.  

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

"Greater Manchester is ready to kickstart a new decade of growth at the heart of a resurgent North. We’ve used our devolved powers to deliver the biggest change in public transport since the ‘80s. Now we'll use them to deliver transformative regeneration across our city-region.  

"We’re already bucking all the national economic trends – our growth and productivity are above the UK average. But with the backing of Government and private investors, we can do even more and add an extra £13 billion a year to the UK economy. 

"Our plan will deliver urban regeneration at a pace and scale not seen before in my lifetime and rebalance the rewards of growth across the UK. It will create tens of thousands much-needed homes and high-quality jobs so all our residents can live good lives."

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Lead for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth, said: 

''In recent years we have seen the transformation of Greater Manchester, from the rapidly changing skyline to the cementing of Manchester as one of Europe’s fastest growing economies. Now is the time to lay the foundations for the next decade, a decade where everyone benefits from our growth.  

"Our dynamic, innovation-led economy is harnessing the power of our world-leading industries, universities, and public-private partnerships, making Greater Manchester the best place in the UK to invest and do business.  

"But we know we still have so much untapped potential, so that's why we are rolling up our sleeves and doing things differently to bring in much-needed investment. 

"This is a long-term plan to make people’s lives better, building on our proven track record of removing blockers to growth and catalysing development that will bring transformative benefits to towns and cities across our city-region."

Notes to Editors 

Greater Manchester has been growing faster than the UK economy for the past decade. Its growth rate of 2.8 per cent has surpassed London, at 1.1 per cent, and the country as a whole, at just 1.3 per cent.  

The city-region has seen more businesses launched per capita than any other place outside of the capital and leads the UK in attracting foreign direct investment. 

Despite exceptional growth over the past two decades, Greater Manchester’s productivity is still 35 per cent below that of London.  

Closing that gap to match the difference between Paris and Lyon would add £20 billion to the UK economy – and bring major benefits to the city-region. 

Greater Manchester’s six Growth Locations are:  

• North East Growth Corridor – including Atom Valley, a Mayoral Development Zone driving growth and innovation in advanced materials and manufacturing, and Northern Gateway, where there’s the potential for 1.2 million square metres of employment space. 

• Airport and Southern Growth Corridor – leveraging Manchester Airport’s international connectivity and continuing the regeneration of Stockport and Wythenshawe town centres. 

• Eastern Growth Cluster – linking key development opportunities of Ashton Moss, St. Petersfield and Ashton Town Centre, building on the creation of Ashton’s Mayoral Development Zone. 

• Central Growth Cluster – driving the next phase of city centre growth in Manchester and Salford, creating new homes and 90,000 new jobs.  

• Western Gateway – including the transformative Old Trafford Regeneration project, Carrington, Trafford Waters, as well as capitalising on Port Salford’s connectivity to link new employment sites to the world.  

• Wigan and Bolton Growth Corridor – 12,000 new homes with access to green space and a new Health Innovation Campus linked to the Royal Bolton Hospital. 

Article Published: 23/01/2025 18:04 PM