Atom Valley and MIX Manchester are set to be showcased to investors at major summit in Leeds – but all eyes will be on Andy BurnhamRob Parsons Executive Editor – Local Democracy Reporting Service
06:12, 18 May 2026Updated 08:32, 18 May 2026
Entrance view of new Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) planned for Atom Valley in Rochdale. Credit: Rochdale Development Agency. (Image: Copyright Unknown)
Two huge billion-pound innovation zones in Greater Manchester are at the heart of a new blueprint by the North of England’s political leaders to unlock a “new era of prosperity” through investment and jobs.
At the Great North Investment Summit in Leeds today, Northern mayors will unveil a major pipeline of opportunities from across the region – all with the backing of Chancellor Rachel Reeves – in the hope of attracting investment from major businesses.
The prospectus going before business leaders features nine major projects, including the Atom Valley advanced manufacturing ‘mega-cluster’ north of Manchester and the MIX Manchester science and innovation campus next to Manchester Airport.
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The two huge schemes have a combined potential value in excess of £2 billion and could create thousands of new jobs, local officials say, but more investment is needed for them to deliver on their promise.
Ahead of the summit, Ms Reeves said the pipeline of projects “shows the huge opportunity across the North – from thriving cities to world-leading industries that can bring in investment and support the jobs of the future”.
Organisers say the investment summit marks a decisive shift in how the North presents itself to the world, as a united force working collectively with Government to unlock national renewal and long-term growth.
They hope that delivering the investment priorities could deliver tens of thousands of new jobs across the North of England, “unlocking a new era of prosperity”.
A map of major Northern investment sites as part of the Great North Investment Summit. Graphic by Gary Beckwith.
But coverage is likely to be dominated by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s bid to run for Parliament after signalling his intention to stand in the Makerfield by-election.
Mr Burnham – who is expected to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer if he wins in Makerfield – is listed online as being due to attend in Leeds but has already cancelled several public engagements in recent days.
In a statement issued last night, he said: “As Mayors and Leaders we have long championed the North of England’s ambition and potential.
“That takes a major step forward today as we showcase the major projects and opportunities that will transform our region in the years to come.
“In Greater Manchester this will mean building thousands of new homes and creating high-value jobs, capitalising on the strength our high-growth industries like advanced manufacturing and life sciences, all underpinned by our pioneering £2 billion Good Growth Fund.
“By working with partners who share our ambitions, we’re ready to deliver long-term growth at the heart of a resurgent North.”
The two projects
The prospectus for investors has been developed in collaboration with the Office for Investment (OFI) and includes projects Northern leaders say are worth more than £14bn, from Merseywide and Cheshire all the way to Hull and the North East.
Mostly spanning the boroughs of Rochdale, Oldham, and Bury, Atom Valley is a sweeping regeneration and economic growth project aiming to create a dynamic, interconnected “manufacturing mega-cluster.”
It’s been heavily backed by Mr Burnham, who wants to establish the region as a world-class hub for advanced materials, sustainable manufacturing and industrial digitalisation.
The Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre in Rochdale recently broke ground and it’s hoped the scheme in total could deliver 20,000 new jobs and 7,000 new homes through public-private partnership.
MIX MANCHESTER is set to be one of the largest science, innovation and manufacturing campuses in the UK, right next to Manchester Airport(Image: Mix Manchester)
The prospectus says the scheme is looking for investors to buy ‘serviced land parcels for development’ as well as ‘buildings delivered by developers on a speculative or build-to-suit basis’.
Formerly known as Airport City Manchester, MIX Manchester is a sweeping 60-acre development next to Manchester Airport targeting sectors such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences, R&D, and clean technology.
Backed by a joint venture partnership including Manchester City Council, Manchester Airports Group, Beijing Construction Engineering Group, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, it’s described as one of the largest planned science and innovation campuses in the UK.
Aiming to become the UK’s first airport-based science, innovation, and manufacturing campus, MIX Manchester is slated to deliver two million square feet of high-quality commercial space and generate up to 8,000 new, highly skilled jobs.
The prospectus says officials behind the scheme are looking for occupiers to take up spaces at the site and that ‘retail and hospitality opportunities can also be discussed with project sponsors’.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, who leads the Great North partnership of mayors and political leaders, said their aim was “that by working together, the North of England could become greater than the sum of its parts”.
She said: “Today we are turning that ambition into action – taking steps to unlock prosperity across the North with billions of investment and the potential to create thousands of high-skilled, well-paid jobs for our communities.
“We are presenting investors with a pipeline of opportunities that is internationally significant in scale, rooted in our proud industrial identity of making things and taking them across the world. Mayors are putting our money where our mouth is, to unlock the full potential of the North which has been untapped for too long.”