'Western Gateway Development Zone' named in next step towards unlocking significant growth area
- The Mayoral Development Zone brings focus to an area that can deliver significant growth at pace and help to unlock barriers to growth
- Transformative programme will strategically focus on development activity within the Western Gateway Development Zone across parts of Salford and Trafford
- Potential to generate thousands of new jobs, capitalising on planned employment space, new homes, as well as leisure and retail
One of six Growth Locations in Greater Manchester identified as part of a cross-borough approach with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Trafford Council will be known as the Western Gateway Development Zone (WGDZ) to include key development sites of Port Salford, Trafford Waters and New Carrington.
The Growth Locations are nationally significant sites with the potential to deliver economic growth across all 10 boroughs. The ambitious plans will bring together two Local Authorities (Salford and Trafford) and GMCA alongside partners to bring focus to an area that can deliver significant growth at pace and help to unlock barriers to this growth.
The designation of a Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) for Salford has been approved by the City Mayor, in consultation with Cabinet members, today (10 June) relating to regeneration across parts of Salford and Trafford.
It will undertake a transformative programme to create jobs, homes and employment space as well as retail and leisure space that can deliver a significant contribution to regional and national economic growth and social outcomes.
Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said: “Salford has experienced rapid development and economic growth in recent years and approval of the dynamic Western Gateway Development Zone is a significant step forward for future growth in Salford, Trafford and Greater Manchester.
“Our city is changing and growing, and we are determined to build on the success that has been achieved with new and innovative opportunities with our partners that will ensure the city’s economic expansion and also benefit our communities.
“It is vital we continue our plans to regenerate and revitalise areas across Salford, which will provide the infrastructure to create thriving, well-connected communities with green spaces and much improved transport links. With investment from public and private sector partners and Government, we can create much-needed homes and high-quality jobs that local people deserve.
“This is a long-term plan and together with our colleagues at Trafford Council and the GMCA, it means we can secure significant infrastructure investment for this part of the region, while also creating a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city.”
The establishment of an MDZ will strategically focus on development activity across the area to create a diverse mix of investment propositions between public and private sector partners to Government and relevant agencies like Network Rail and National Highways.
In Salford, the sites that sit within the MDZ could create more than 5,000 new jobs, up to 511,000 square meters of new employment space and generate £6.4 million in business rates.
The WGDZ represents the council’s commitment to creating a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city as part of the 2024 to 2028 Corporate Plan, in particular ‘Good growth’ which includes attracting inward investment, delivering the city’s employment and skills strategy and investing in improving the city’s key infrastructure to boost transport and digital connectivity.
Greater Manchester’s new integrated pipeline for growth will target investment at the six growth locations, aiming to attract at least £1bn of investment each year for the next decade.
Cabinet approval is subject to a five-day call-in period. The MDZ will go before Trafford Council’s executive on 16 June and GMCA on 27 June.
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