FAQs

What is Northern Gateway?

In the Places for Everyone joint development plan Northern Gateway is made up of two allocated development sites, one an employment-led destination (known as allocation JPA 1.1 Heywood/Pilsworth), and the other intended to be residential-led (known as allocation JPA 1.2 Simister/Bowlee).
Part of the Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone, together they will deliver transformative growth for Greater Manchester and beyond, with substantial investment, new jobs, homes and community benefits.
You’ll be able to find out information about the employment destination here, with a separate website for the residential coming soon.
What has happened so far?

Bury and Rochdale Councils recently consulted on a joint Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the employment-led Northern Gateway site JPA 1.1 Heywood/Pilsworth. The SPD sets out a transformative vision for the site, a number of design principles for its development and more detailed policy on what should be developed across the area. This document will provide a blueprint or framework for which all future planning applications will be considered.
Who is the team behind Northern Gateway?
Plans for a large portion of the Northern Gateway site will be developed by the Northern Gateway Development Vehicle (NGDV) – a 50/50 partnership between Russell LDP and Harworth Group plc. The NGDV are collaborating to design proposals for the site and prepare a planning application. If the applications are approved, they will then be responsible for building the development and securing operators to move there.
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.
What is currently being prepared?

The Northern Gateway Development Vehicle (NGDV), a 50/50 partnership between Russell LDP and Harworth Group is bringing forward an outline planning application for an early phase of the Northern Gateway employment-led site (JPA 1.1 Heywood/Pilsworth) which covers around half of the overall proposed floorspace. See below for more information about the two partners.
What are the proposals for the employment-led site?
Northern Gateway will create a dynamic and nationally significant employment destination, driving jobs and investment in the northern boroughs and supporting a rebalancing of the city region’s economy.
The current proposals for the employment-led site are for:
Around 600,000 sq. m of employment space in advanced manufacturing, industrial and logistics – from start-ups to international businesses
Around 5,000 sq. m of supporting uses potentially including retail, cafés/restaurants, a hotel, office space, conference and training facilities and community uses
Landscaping and green, open space for recreation and to improve local biodiversity
Active travel routes linking existing and new homes with jobs.
Sustainability at the heart of the design, contributing to Greater Manchester’s commitment to be net zero carbon by 2038.
What are the benefits?

As one of the UK’s most important employment destinations it is set to attract national and international businesses and drive investment in the local area and supercharge the Greater Manchester economy. Creating a hub for innovation, the plans will deliver a long-term legacy, driving skills and creating high-quality jobs for generations to come.
We will deliver opportunities for people living in Bury, Rochdale and beyond with thousands of high-quality jobs and a long-term legacy of skills.
Alongside advanced manufacturing jobs, from skilled trades to R&D, AI and robotics, the site could offer high-quality logistics jobs like project managers, IT operatives, sales teams and engineers.
The first phase could see around 9,990 high-quality jobs created (with the wider employment site set to deliver around 20,000 jobs), a £570 million GVA boost to Greater Manchester’s economy each year and annual business rates of around £20 million to support council services.
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 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.
How can I have my say?

We have held a public consultation on the plans for the employment-led site. The consultation ran from Monday 20 January 2025 until Monday 17 February, 2025. In the coming weeks, a full report of the themes arising and comments from the public consultation will be provided in the Statement of Community Involvement submitted with the planning application.
When are you submitting the planning application?

We are planning to submit an outline planning application to both Rochdale and Bury Councils in the spring and expect a decision later in the year. This will take place following public consultation and a further stage of finalising our plans. If approved, further applications (known as Reserved Matters applications) will follow which will provide details on layout, access, scale, appearance and landscaping.
What will you do with my feedback?

We will listen to and collate feedback through the public consultation wherever we can, to shape the proposals that we bring forward in a planning application. All feedback will be collated and reported in a Consultation Report which will be submitted with the planning application.
What about the next steps for the Simister and Bowlee housing site (JPA 1.2)?
I’m interested in locating to the site or providing services, how do I get in touch?

Have Your Say

The public consultation on the proposals closed on 17^th February 2025. The team are considering and reviewing the feedback submitted in advance of a planning application to Bury and Rochdale Councils.

Download the consultation newsletter here
Watch the video from our online Q&A on Monday 3rd February here

Get In Touch

General Enquiries

Write:
Freepost HAVE YOUR SAY (no further address or stamp needed)

Email:
info@northerngatewayconsultation.co.uk

Call:
Freephone 0800 689 1095 (9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri)

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As the development proposals take shape this website will be updated.