Atom Valley will power Rochdale regeneration dreams
Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, is backing plans by Rochdale Borough Council to create thousands of jobs, as well as employment space and new homes with the creation of a new Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ).
Following negotiations between the Mayor and the council, the North East Growth Corridor will be adopted as a MDZ.
It will be known as Atom Valley and will cover large parts of the boroughs of Bury and Rochdale along the M62.
It includes existing developments, such as Kingsway Business Park, home to the Advanced Machinery and Productivity Institute (AMPI), and projects recently under way, such as South Heywood.
At the heart of Atom Valley will be the Northern Gateway employment site, complemented by plans to regenerate Heywood and Middleton town centres.
The vision is to create a new centre of employment and opportunity in the north of Greater Manchester. The area has the potential to create a cluster of manufacturing innovation focused on advanced machinery and materials at Kingsway and South Heywood.
Atom Valley will be the largest growth area in Greater Manchester, designed to help re-balance the region’s economy by bringing thousands of higher quality jobs, opportunities and housing to the borough of Rochdale and surrounding areas.
It will also make the area the heart of a new era of advanced materials growth and technology, helping drive Britain’s standing in the world.
The MDZ will ensure Heywood and Middleton are at the centre of wider plans for Greater Manchester’s North East Growth Corridor, which will see 10,000 new homes and more than one million square metres of new employment space created for the borough, plus new sustainable transport links and infrastructure to support the growth.
The MDZ means that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority will work with the council to secure additional funding needed for the development of the scheme.
This will include significant improvements to transport links such as the new tram-train link into Heywood, Metrolink extension to Middleton and bus services linking Heywood with Manchester, together with walking and cycle routes to connect residents with jobs, education and skills, complementing the recent M62 junction 19 investment.
Cllr John Blundell, cabinet member for economy and communications, said: “Atom Valley Manchester is a once in a generation opportunity to create a major centre for advanced manufacturing in Rochdale and Bury. As the largest growth location in Greater Manchester, Atom Valley will see universities and companies come together to harness cutting edge technology and create thousands of highly skilled jobs within our borough.
“Atom Valley will also boost ongoing regeneration plans in our town centres and provide first class infrastructure, as well as better public transport connections so our residents can access these jobs. It will provide new neighbourhoods and high quality homes for our residents so they can stay and prosper here and those wanting to move to the area.”
He added: “The scheme will not only bring many new job opportunities but will offer the potential to trailblaze the delivery of net zero housing to produce better and more affordable and sustainable homes.
“The MDZ is an example of how the council, the Mayor and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) can work together with the private sector to deliver these environmentally sound plans to make our borough thrive. Atom Valley will be the heartbeat and lifeblood for surrounding areas – we are committed to making it a huge success.”
