Northern Gateway

Have your say on
Northern Gateway

The UK’s most accessible large scale and flexible employment opportunity

Northern Gateway will create a high quality, dynamic and nationally significant employment destination which will fundamentally re-balance the economy of Greater Manchester. It will drive positive transformational change in the northern boroughs, unlocking investment, jobs and skills.

Set within Atom Valley – Greater Manchester’s Mayoral Development Zone – it will be a sustainable and flexible destination, unlocking far-reaching growth, employment and social value benefits.

Here you can register for updates as the project progresses and find answers to early questions about what’s in store.

Northern Gateway is made up of two allocated development sites both of which straddle the border between Bury Council and Rochdale Council. One an employment-led destination alongside new homes and the other intended to be residential-led. You’ll be able to find out information about the employment destination here, with a separate website for the residential coming soon.

This website will be used to consult on a future planning application for the Northern Gateway employment site, which is anticipated in 2025. Ahead of this, Rochdale and Bury Councils will be preparing and consulting on Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) for the Northern Gateway employment site.

Rebalancing the Greater<br>Manchester economy

Rebalancing the Greater
Manchester economy

Unlocking investment,<br>jobs and skills

Unlocking investment,
jobs and skills

Sustainable net
zero destination

Register Your Interest

It’s early days in developing proposals for Northern Gateway. We’ll keep this website updated as more information becomes available.

In the meantime, sign up to our mailing list. We’ll send you direct updates as the project progresses including details of how you can have your say on a future planning application

Latest Updates

Following adoption of the Places for Everyone (PfE) joint development plan in March 2024, Bury and Rochdale Councils have announced that they plan to develop and adopt a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the Northern Gateway employment site.

Working collaboratively, the councils expect to publish a draft SPD for the employment site for consultation in Autumn 2024. For updates on this process, visit the Bury Council website here and Rochdale Council website here.

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What are the Northern Gateway allocated sites?

Northern Gateway is a significant development located at a strategically important intersection around the M60, M62 and M66 motorways in Greater Manchester. It is made up of two development sites, both of which straddle the border between Bury Council and Rochdale Council. The employment-led destination (which also includes some housing) is referenced as JP Allocation 1.1: Heywood / Pilsworth in the Places for Everyone plan, with the residential site referenced as JP Allocation 1.2: Simister and Bowlee.
What are you planning to develop?

The sites are allocated for development in the Places for Everyone (PfE) joint development plan and are part of the Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone. One of the sites is planned as an employment-led destination, with the other proposed to provide new homes. Together, they will deliver transformative growth for Greater Manchester and beyond, with substantial investment, new jobs, homes and community benefits.
Who is the team behind Northern Gateway?

Plans for a large portion of the Northern Gateway sites will be developed by the Northern Gateway Development Vehicle – a 50/50 partnership between Russell LDP and Harworth Group plc. See below for more about us. The Northern Gateway Development Vehicle are collaborating to design proposals for the site and prepare planning applications. If these applications are approved, we will then be responsible for building the development and securing operators to move there.
What are the councils’ roles in delivering Northern Gateway?

The councils are planning to develop two Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) for the Northern Gateway allocation sites. SPDs add further detail to what is expected of developers bringing forward planning applications for the sites and will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications, and will be subject to consultation before they’re adopted.
The councils will also be responsible for considering the planning applications.
When will more information on the proposals for Northern Gateway be available?

We’re starting to develop proposals for the employment-led site in more detail and anticipate submitting a planning application for consideration in 2025. As part of our approach, we plan to engage with the surrounding communities as part of inclusive pre-application consultation. Proposals for the employment site will come forward first.
How can I have my say on the plans on the employment development?

The councils will be carrying out their own consultation on the draft SPD for the site, which will be publicised via their respective websites. You can find out more information about this on the councils’ websites here and here, and express an early interest in the council-led consultation.
The Northern Gateway Development Vehicle will be carrying out separate consultation on the planning application before we submit it to the councils. This will provide a chance for you to meet our team, ask questions about what we propose and have your say. We’ll then use the feedback, wherever we can, to shape the development we bring forward. Register for updates today (via the form above) and we’ll let you know when we have more information about the consultation.
The EIA Scoping Report provides certain details about the development, such as layouts, building heights and approach to landscaping. Are these decisions confirmed?

No. To give flexibility in the design process, the Scoping Report sets out the upper limits of development and works on a ‘worst case scenario’ basis when it comes to any environmental impacts that we will need to consider. The details of the proposed development will be developed over the coming months and subject to community consultation in 2025, ahead of submission of a planning application later in the year.
Why have you submitted a request for an EIA Scoping Opinion to the councils for the employment-led site?

We are at an early stage of considering development of Northern Gateway and how different parts of the site could be used. The EIA scoping process helps facilitate technical discussions and get early feedback on the detailed assessments we will need to carry out as part of the planning application process in due course. It does not predetermine what will be in the draft SPD, being prepared by the councils.
How can I have my say on the residential development?
I’m interested in locating to the site or providing services, how do I get in touch?

An Experienced Team

Northern Gateway is being delivered by the Northern Gateway Development Vehicle, a 50/50 joint venture between Russell LDP and Harworth Group. Both businesses are working together, alongside key partners and stakeholders, to bring forward the employment destination.

Both Russell LDP and Harworth Group plc have strong track records in delivering benchmark regeneration and construction projects throughout the region, with experienced Manchester-based teams.

Founded in 1997, Russell LDP is an experienced land promoter and commercial developer, headquartered in Manchester. Russell LDP is bringing forward South Heywood, the consented first phase of the Northern Gateway allocation including employment space and new homes. Find out more about Russell LDP here.

Harworth Group plc is one of the leading land and property regeneration companies in the UK, owning and managing approximately 13,000 acres on around 100 sites in the North of England and Midlands. Harworth creates sustainable places for people to live and work, delivering thousands of new jobs and homes in the regions. Find out more about Harworth Group here.

Have your say onNorthern Gateway

Rebalancing the GreaterManchester economy

Unlocking investment,jobs and skills

Sustainable netzero destination