These are all the significant developments tabled with council across the city-region recently
Plans to cut speed limits to 20mph and hundreds of homes earmarked for the countryside are some of the most significant developments across Greater Manchester over the past week.
In Stockport, there is a big review being conducted by the council to cut 40mph zones down to 30mph. Then on residential streets, the 30mph zones could be cut to 20mph, under the plans.
The review will look into how this idea could help improve safety on the borough’s roads.
On the other side of the city-region, on the edge of Rochdale, a green light could be given to a 309-home development. The scheme has long been earmarked for Littleborough’s countryside – sparking huge controversy.
The massive plan will be decided on next week by the council’s planning committee.
Here is a breakdown of each borough’s recently submitted public notices.
Bolton
Crumbling park listed building exposed to the elements for more than two centuries set for painstaking restoration
A 200-year-old grade II listed agricultural landmark is set for a painstaking restoration.
The dovecote building in Hulton Park, west of Bolton, is an early 19th century red brick structure with a grey slate roof and a lantern on top. It is octagonal in shape, with a hipped roof and internal nesting boxes. A planning application has been submitted by developer Peel Land to restore the structure.
The planning application said the building is currently in need of repair, particularly to its walls and roof. The proposal is linked to Peel’s proposed residential led Lee Hall development of up to 1,450 homes and around 25,000 sq m of industrial and warehousing floorspace.
Eight-bed HMO plan for prominent town centre building
A vacant building in the heart of Bolton town centre could become a HMO for eight people.
The property, on Bold Street, is close to both Newport Street, one of the town’s main shopping areas and the bus interchange.
Plans submitted to Bolton council in the past week from Bolton based I&F Trading Ltd seek permission to convert the building into a shared house for eight people.
The property currently has a vacant ground floor unit that has in the past been used for storage and distribution.
The first floor was last known to be used as an events space and hall for hire but has also been vacant in recent years.
Manchester
This is what Gary Neville’s £4,500-per-night expanded hotel could look like
This is how Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs’ new hotel could look — as the United legends plan to triple the size of their luxury accommodation.
Now, fresh from formally opening his St Michael’s office, apartment, and hotel complex near the Town Hall, Mr Neville has another major project in the works. He plans to convert a nearly-empty 1990s office block opposite the Stock Exchange, Norfolk House, into an extension of the hotel. It will add 95 rooms to the accommodation — more than tripling from 40 — and new guest amenities like a gym, spa, and restaurant.
Rochdale
Hundreds of homes set to be built on countryside near popular Greater Manchester beauty spot
Hundreds of new homes are set to be built on the Littleborough countryside near a popular beauty spot.
The plan for 309 houses right next to Hollingworth Lake has been recommended for approval by town hall officers. The giant scheme has long been earmarked for land next to the tourist hotspot in the Rochdalian town.
Now its fate will be decided at next week’s planning committee meeting on November 27. Bloor Homes sparked controversy locally with their desire to build land to the west of Hollingworth Road, as well as a replacement car park off Rakewood Road.
New mystery drive-thru plan tabled for Greater Manchester town
The former home of a dessert takeaway in Rochdale could soon be transformed into a drive-thru restaurant.
The empty retail unit on Sandbrook Park previously housed Pink Drips, until it shut down in early 2024. Now plans to convert the spot next to Pizza Hut into a drive-thru have been tabled by developer AIG Holdings Ltd.
Under the proposals, the empty unit off Sandbrook Way would be refurbished and have a drive-thru lane installed.
Salford
Residents and businesses face ‘relocation’ for new city centre park amid flood concerns
A landmark regeneration project set to bring huge changes to Manchester and Salford has taken a step closer to approval.
The two cities have created a joint masterplan to revamp the areas around Strangeways and the Cambridge industrial estate in Broughton, with 7,000 homes planned across seven new neighbourhoods. The blueprint – known as the Strangeways and Cambridge Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) – won the backing of Salford council’s cabinet during a meeting at Salford Civic Centre on November 11.
In Salford, the plan is to create a new 60-acre public park, dubbed a ‘regional destination’ in Greater Manchester.
Stockport
Major changes on Stockport roads as 30mph zones could be cut to 20mph
A review of roads will take place in Stockport which could see speed limits lowered across the borough.
All urban roads with 40mph speed limits will be reviewed with a view to dropping to 30mph, alongside a plan ‘for implementing 20mph speed limits on all residential streets’. Councillors agreed to the proposals during a meeting at the town hall on November 13.
The motion requested a report with details about a delivery plan and timeline for the work to be shared at a council meeting within six months. According to figures from Transport for Greater Manchester, there were three deaths and 71 serious injuries on Stockport’s roads in 2024.
Greek Street, Stockport – Road Closure
Until Spring 2026, Greek Street roundabout in Stockport will be closed for railway bridge replacement works.
Works expected to last until Wednesday, April 1.
Tameside
Update on future of empty community centre on edge of Greater Manchester
An abandoned community centre on the edge of Tameside is set to be offloaded by the council.
Hollingworth Community Centre was previously home to the First Longdendale Scouts for 20 years, but has stood empty since the group surrendered its lease earlier this year. The Market Street site is now expected to be deemed ‘surplus to requirements’ by town hall bosses next week.
This effectively means the council would start the process of selling off the asset if no other solution to use the building is found. Following a recent meeting with local residents, the council is expecting to invite expressions of interest from community groups who may want to take on the building.
Mottram-in-Longdendale/Hollingworth, Tameside
Planned road layout changes will take place on Roe Cross Road & A57 Mottram Moor. The preliminary works are part of a wider project to build two new link roads between Manchester and Sheffield.
Works expected to last until January 31, 2028.
Trafford
249 homes set to be built after shopping mall is bulldozed
Plans to build 249 ‘high quality’ homes on the site of the soon-to-be-demolished Stretford Mall have been unveiled.
Development partners Trafford council and property company Bruntwood will submit the scheme to planners for approval in the New Year. The homes on the site of the existing mall will range from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom townhouses.
At the heart of the plans is a new park which includes a green, welcoming space, say bosses of the joint venture behind the project. Around it, new ground-floor retail and leisure space will help bring more everyday amenities to Stretford.
Wigan
Plans to build thousands of homes on green belt land put on hold after outcry
Town hall bosses in Wigan have put on hold a plan which targets huge swathes of green land for the development of thousands of houses and industrial development.
The draft Local Plan has identified sites across the borough where 16,527 new homes will be delivered by 2039 at a rate of 927 a year between now and then.
Councillors in the town’s cabinet withdrew the approval of the plan from their agenda, meaning it will not now go to the full council for approval. The move was broadly welcomed by two local MPs and a group of councillors whose wards would be affected by the approval of the plan, which would signal a green light to developers eyeing Green Belt land.
