Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: March 18, 2025

Purpose: To seek cabinet approval to create a Mayoral Development Corporation for the Northern Gateway, in the Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone

Content: Councillor Wardle declared a pecuniary interest in reference to Item 8 – Atom Valley Northern Gateway Mayoral Development Corporation and Item 9 – Northern Gateway Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document by virtue of land ownership in the area interested by these two proposals. Hence, Councillor Wardle took no part in the discussion and vote on these items of business.   The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Economy and Place, which sought approval of the principles of the Memorandum of Understanding to formalise the joint working arrangements with Bury Council with the view to progress the work to deliver the Atom Valley and the Northern Gateway programmes through a Mayoral Development Corporation as preferred delivery vehicle.   The Head of Strategic Growth was in attendance to present the information and to address the questions and the comments of the Cabinet Members.   The Officer informed that, as outlined in previous reports presented at this Cabinet, the Council was working in partnership with Bury Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to bring forward the Northern Gateway sites, providing a significant boost to employment opportunities and economic growth locally.   Formalisation of the collaborative working was now proposed in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding between Bury and Rochdale Councils.   It was also proposed that a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) be created to drive forward the Northern Gateway sites to delivery reflecting the importance of the sites regionally and nationally, to be named ‘Atom Valley Northern Gateway Mayoral Development Corporation’.   Resolved: 1.    That the principles of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise the joint working arrangements with Bury Council to progress work on Atom Valley and the Northern Gateway be endorsed; 2.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Economy and Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing, Assistant Director of Legal, Governance and Coroners and the Director of Corporate Services, to develop the detail of the joint-district MoU and formalise the agreement, or any subsequent agreement which is deemed necessary; 3.    That the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) as the preferred delivery vehicle, with its associated name ‘Atom Valley Northern Gateway’ MDC and boundary (Appendix 2 of the report) be approved; 4.    That the public consultation on the creation of the Atom Valley Northern Gateway MDC be approved; 5.    That it be noted that a similar report had been presented to and approved by Bury Council’s Executive on 5 March 2025; 6.    That  it be noted that, subject to the decisions of this Council and Bury Council, a report would be presented to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on 28 March 2025 requesting that it endorse the proposal to consult on the establishment of a Mayoral Development Corporation as the preferred delivery vehicle for the Northern Gateway; 7.    That it be noted that a further report would be brought to Cabinet on conclusion of the public consultation and analysis of responses with further recommendations in respect of the proposed Atom Valley Northern Gateway MDC; 8.    That it be noted that the match funding required from the Council and detailed in paragraph 6 of the report can be funded from the existing Atom Valley capital budget in 2025/26.   Reason for decision: In November 2024, Cabinet had endorsed the principles of formalising the collaborative working arrangements with Bury Council in respect of the Northern Gateway. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had now been developed to cement alignment of the Council’s shared commitment to work together with its partners to deliver the Northern Gateway. Cabinet had also endorsed exploration of potential delivery options for the Northern Gateway and subsequently, joint advice had been commissioned between the Councils and GMCA and which had concluded that a Mayoral Development Corporation would be the most appropriate delivery vehicle to achieve the shared ambitions for the Northern Gateway. As the preferred delivery vehicle for the Northern Gateway, approval to create the Atom Valley Northern Gateway MDC with its associated boundary would enable the statutory public consultation to proceed, commencing the statutory process for creation and implementation.   Alternatives considered and rejected: 1.    That the principles of the Memorandum of Understanding were not approved, undermining the collaborative working arrangements with Bury Council and increasing risk to the delivery of the Northern Gateway, including to investor confidence; 2.    That the MDC was not endorsed as the preferred delivery vehicle for Northern Gateway and the Atom Valley Northern Gateway MDC was not created, noting that the alternative delivery vehicles were discounted for a range of reasons, including: intensive time and resources required to set up, level of risk share with the private sector, insufficient powers, difficulties in creating cross-boundary governance and reliance on pending legislation creating threats to delivery timelines based on an untested model with no best practice basis.