Purpose

The Growth Locations revenue programme provides early-stage development funding to progress priority capital projects that contribute to the outcomes of the Greater Manchester Strategy. The funding will enable local authorities and partners to undertake the work required to develop and progress these priority schemes. It also supports the development of a deliverable pipeline of schemes capable of attracting future capital investment, including through the Good Growth Fund. This may include masterplanning, feasibility and due-diligence work, business-case development, planning activity, technical studies and associated surveys.

The latest quarterly funding round identified 19 schemes requiring revenue support. The proposed allocations were considered and endorsed by the Directors of Place and the Chief Executives’ Investment Group in July 2026.

Decision

1. Approved grant funding of up to £2,183,891 to Greater Manchester local authorities and delivery partners for Growth Locations revenue activity between September 2026 and March 2027.
   
   2. Approved funding for 19 revenue-funded schemes across Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan, including one joint Oldham and Rochdale project, in accordance with the allocations and scope set out in the GMCA 2125 Grant Award Report.
   
   

Alternative options considered

The alternative option was not to award the requested grant funding, or to defer the decision to a later funding round. This option was rejected because it would delay or prevent local authorities and partners from undertaking the development work required to progress the identified Growth Locations schemes during the 2026/27 financial year. This would risk slowing progress on priority schemes and could delay the schemes’ readiness for future capital investment.