Oldham Mayoral Development Corporation consultation is now open!

The consultation on the proposed Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for Oldham is now open and I’d encourage local people to join me in having their say 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆.

In my contribution, I said that I support the principle behind an MDC, they are devolution at its best. Oldham deserves ambition. We need investment, regeneration, new jobs, better housing and long-term planning that helps our communities thrive.

But I’ve also made clear in my response to the consultation that we need to get the footprint right.

For many years, Oldham town centre has rightly been a focus for investment, and that should continue. But Oldham is a borough of proud towns and communities, and regeneration should be felt across the borough, not concentrated in the same places again.

The proposed SportsTown development around Oldham Athletic, alongside investment at the Royal Oldham Hospital, presents a huge opportunity. In my view, there is a strong case for following that natural corridor of growth through Chadderton and Royton, building on existing investment and unlocking the potential of our town centres, transport links and business estates.

I’ve also argued that we need a clearer assessment of how investment and opportunity will be distributed, and that regeneration should help address long-standing imbalances between communities rather than simply focusing on areas that have already received significant attention.

Done well, an MDC can help bring together housing, transport, employment and public services into a single vision for the future. That’s exactly the kind of joined-up approach Oldham needs.

Whatever your view, please take a few minutes to read the proposals and share your thoughts. Local people should have a strong voice in shaping the future of our borough.

Head to https://www.vcfseleadershipgm.org.uk/news-and-events/have-your-say-mayoral-development-corporation-for-oldham to have your say.