Northern Gateway
Unlocking a nationally significant growth opportunity
Supporting the delivery of one of the UK's largest employment-led developments and a key driver of Greater Manchester's economic future.
A strategic location for growth
Northern Gateway is a nationally significant employment-led development allocated within the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan.
Straddling the boundaries of Bury and Rochdale, the site has the capacity to deliver around 1.2 million sq m of employment floorspace, creating one of the UK's largest opportunities for industrial and logistics growth.
Sketched by artist Alan Martin on behalf of our Design team
Balancing scale with sustainability
The parameter plans and design codes were developed to provide the flexibility required for a project of this scale while protecting important environmental assets and managing potential environmental effects.
This approach established a framework capable of supporting long-term investment while responding to evolving development needs.
Delivering a vision for Northern Gateway
We supported Bury Council and Rochdale Borough Council in preparing the Northern Gateway Development Framework, which was adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document in 2025.
The framework now guides future planning applications across the site and provides clarity and confidence for investment.
The submitted outline planning application for the first phase will enable up to 6.5 million sq ft of employment space focused on advanced manufacturing, industrial and logistics uses.
The wider scheme has the potential to create up to 10,000 jobs and generate £630 million of GVA, supporting inclusive growth across Greater Manchester and strengthening the competitiveness of the city's northern boroughs.
Our Planning, Design, EIA, Heritage & Townscape, Economics and Sustainability & ESG teams have worked collaboratively to support the development from framework preparation through to planning submission.
We also continue to advise on the complementary residential-led allocation south of the M62, which will deliver around 1,550 homes alongside supporting infrastructure.
Fiona Lomas-Holt
Director, Head of Sustainability and ESG
