Greater Manchester’s plans to create mayoral development corporations (MDCs) in five towns could bring substantial public and private money into Oldham and its neighbours, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) says. The proposals — which also cover Bolton, Middleton, and parts of Tameside including Ashton and Stalybridge — have completed a public consultation phase and are now being reviewed by the GMCA before the next steps.
What the proposals aim to do
The MDC model is a partnership between local councils and the Greater Manchester mayor, designed to raise the profile of towns and unlock investment for regeneration. Officials point to Stockport as an example, where a Mayoral Development Corporation set up in 2019 has supported a multi‑billion pound transformation of the town centre and saw its regeneration boundary expanded by Parliament earlier this year.
For Ashton and Stalybridge, the GMCA consultation sets out ambitions to build a stronger transport hub which brings bus, tram and train services together and to use that improved connectivity to drive housing, jobs and local facilities. The consultation document specifically refers to creating a “well‑connected, transport‑focused community.”
“A key part of change is to create the first fully integrated Bee Network Hub, bringing together bus, tram, and train services to improve connectivity as well as boosting the economy and wider regeneration.”
Local impact and the scale of change
The plans promise to attract both public and private investment and could see outcomes such as new homes, upgraded local services and more employment opportunities. For Ashton and Stalybridge alone, the consultation mentions the potential to deliver around 3,000 new homes, including affordable housing, as part of the wider regeneration.
- Towns named: Oldham, Bolton, Middleton, Ashton and Stalybridge.
- Main aims: improved transport links, new housing, stronger local economies.
- Precedent: Stockport MDC and its reported £2bn transformation.
| Town | Key ambition cited |
|---|---|
| Oldham | Part of MDC proposals to attract investment and regenerate town centre areas |
| Bolton | Included in MDC thinking to boost profile and investment |
| Middleton | Listed as a town for potential targeted upgrades and development |
| Ashton & Stalybridge | Transport‑led regeneration, Bee Network hub, ~3,000 new homes referenced |
Local authorities and the GMCA will now consider the responses gathered during consultation before deciding whether to progress formal proposals. If approved, MDCs have powers to co‑ordinate planning, attract development funding and speed up delivery of major projects — tools supporters say are essential to reversing decades of underinvestment in some town centres.
For residents in Oldham this process could mean new opportunities for homes, jobs and improved transport links, but it will also bring questions about how benefits are shared, what happens to existing communities and how local voices are represented in decisions. The GMCA has not yet published its response to the consultation or a timetable for any formal designation.
We will follow the GMCA’s next steps and report on any announcements affecting Oldham as they come through.
