Purpose

The proposed Oldham Mayoral Development Corporation will provide a dedicated delivery vehicle to bring forward regeneration across a defined area of Oldham. The proposal is intended to support the delivery of the Oldham Vision and Greater Manchester Strategy 2025–2035 by helping to create a thriving and resilient community, with health, education, wellbeing, housing, infrastructure and economic growth at the heart of regeneration. The proposed MDC would bring together public and private sector stakeholders, provide a clear point of contact for residents, partners, developers and investors, and help coordinate investment and delivery across the area.

The proposed MDC area includes SportsTown around Boundary Park, Oldham Town Centre, Alexandra Park and Northern Roots to the south. The programme is anchored by the proposed Health, Sport Science and Innovation Campus within the SportsTown masterplan, alongside investment in the town centre, improved access to education, enhanced cultural spaces, more sustainable transport, heritage-led regeneration, low-carbon heating and the Northern Roots urban farm and eco-park. These projects are intended to support better health and wellbeing outcomes, create new homes and employment opportunities, improve local amenities and infrastructure, and strengthen Oldham’s regional and national investment profile.

The designation follows previous GMCA approval in principle to the creation of an MDC for Oldham and the Mayor’s approval to undertake consultation on the proposal. The public consultation closed 1st July and received 362 responses through the GM Consult platform, 83.43% of those respondents agreed with the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation for Oldham whilst 16.02% disagreed.

The most common identified from the consultation results, were that the MDC could reduce local democratic accountability by transferring decision-making power away from elected councillors and local residents, leading to less transparency and public scrutiny. However, the MDC is intended to provide a dedicated vehicle to support delivery and secure investment, rather than duplicate existing council functions. Existing statutory planning, environmental and green space protections will continue to apply, and the MDC will be expected to deliver regeneration in a way that supports local communities and maximises public benefit.
These concerns have been carefully considered as part of the designation process. However, it is considered that they do not outweigh the significant benefits that an MDC can bring in accelerating regeneration, attracting investment, and coordinating delivery across a defined area.

Decision

Alternative delivery options were considered through an options review undertaken with officers from Oldham Council. The option of not designating an MDC was rejected because it would not provide the same focused delivery vehicle, visibility of public sector commitment, coordination of investment, or powers to support complex regeneration and growth across the proposed area.

Alternative options considered

The Mayor;
1. Noted and considered the results of the consultation exercise in respect of the designation of a Mayoral Development Corporation in Oldham.
2. Noted a statutory consultation has taken place with all GM constituent councils and each Member of Parliament whose parliamentary constituency contains any part of the area.
3. Agreed to endorse the response to the consultation set out in section 5 of this report.
4. Noted that Oldham Council will consider if they support the proposal on 7h September 2026.
5. Supported the proposal and approved the designation moving to the next phase of the approval process, noting that a report will then be laid before the GMCA stating that the Mayor proposes to designate the area identified at Appendix 1 of this report as a Mayoral Development Area.
6. Agreed to approve to designate the Mayoral development area for Oldham, subject to the GMCA approving and Oldham Council endorsing the proposal, and to notify the Secretary of State of the designation and the name to be given to the Mayoral Development Corporation, as follows: “Oldham Mayoral Development Corporation”