MIPIM | Bolton and Wigan launch NorthFold growth corridor

Working with GMCA and developer partner Peel Land, the local authorities envisage delivery of 9,000 homes, 3.7m sq ft of industrial space, and 312,000 sq ft of offices by 2035.

Launched today at MIPIM, the partners said that the search is now on for investors to take on 1m sq ft of development that will transform the area into an international sports and leisure destination, a hub for health and food innovation, and a model for sustainable housing development.

A vital part of the aspiration is the planned East-West Link Road that would both improve connectivity and open up a stack of development sites.

NorthFold is underpinned by six catalyst projects and a pipeline of infrastructure investment.

Catalyst projects include:

• Bolton town centre: A £1bn masterplan to create 5,000 new town centre residents with a mix of retail, leisure, hospitality and employment space
• Wigan town centre: Creating a destination that combines shopping with leisure, major projects include Wigan Galleries, Cotton Works and ultimately Wigan Station Gateway
• Haigh Hall: The historic country house is being transformed into a nationally significant arts, culture and heritage destination
• Hulton Park: This 700-year-old estate being restored with new homes, a hotel, retail, sport, leisure and community facilities, with potential to host the 2035 Ryder Cup and other major events
• Health Innovation Bolton: NorthFold’s primary health innovation zone specialising in wellness and preventative medicine
• NorthFold Food Innovation Centre: Potential to become a national cluster for food innovation and advanced manufacturing, building on existing strengths of big names like Heinz and Warburtons

A fully completed east-west link would, said the partners, provide a reliable new route across Wigan and Bolton, unlocking access to NorthFold’s many housing and employment sites.

Together with A577 complementary works, expected within 18 months of the link road, the improved road network will encourage more active travel and bus journeys.

Bolton Council’s director of place, Jon Dyson, said: “NorthFold is one of the most significant investment opportunities in Greater Manchester, so it is only right that an announcement of this scale was made at MIPIM in front of an international audience of investors and developers.

“The public launch follows years of hard work to develop the clear pipeline of six catalyst projects that will build real confidence in the market.

“The growth location is an unprecedented collaboration between Bolton and Wigan councils alongside GMCA and, with Peel Land already on board, we look forward to welcoming more partners to the fold.”

Aidan Thatcher, director of place at Wigan Council said: “There’s never been a better time to invest in Wigan, with significant funding already secured and regeneration schemes under way, to help us realise our ambitious growth plans.

“In January Wigan was named a property hotspot, with house prices rising at 5% per year and rental yields increasing, demonstrating confidence in Wigan’s growth and regeneration plans.

“NorthFold represents a great opportunity to be a part of our exciting future, capitalising on all the great things already happening in the borough.”

Stephen Wild, managing director of Peel Land, said: “Greater Manchester has always been one of the most forward-looking regions of the UK and the vision for NorthFold further builds on this reputation.

“Centred on a strong location between Bolton and Wigan together with equally strong collaboration between public and private sector parties, we look forward to realising it’s potential – delivering significant areas of housing, innovative workplaces with high quality employment, a leading leisure destination capable of hosting international calibre events and a health innovation campus.

“This will help deliver opportunities and positive legacies for Wigan, Bolton and Greater Manchester as a whole.”

• Read more from MIPIM 2025 on Place North’s MIPIM Hub