Bury Council has approved the acceptance of £8.5 million in remaining Investment Zone capital funding for the Northern Gateway Western Access scheme, alongside arrangements to progress the project's design and business-case development.
The scheme will improve transport access to the Northern Gateway employment site, which spans parts of Bury and Rochdale and forms a major component of Greater Manchester's Investment Zone. The proposed improvements to the Pilsworth Road corridor are intended to support the early phases of development and enable future employment space, including facilities for advanced manufacturing.
At its meeting on 14 October 2026, the council also approved £423,000 for project management services and delegated authority to finalise a further pre-construction contract sum of up to approximately £3.13 million.
The Western Access project remains in its pre-construction phase. Preliminary designs are expected to be completed in early 2027, with detailed designs and costings progressing towards 2028. Under the current funding arrangements, construction is scheduled to begin by autumn 2028 and finish by summer 2030.
The decision advances the infrastructure preparations required to accommodate future development at Northern Gateway.