The Atom Valley Northern Gateway Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) has appointed Chris Cheap as its managing director.
Cheap joins after almost 23 years at real estate adviser Avison Young, where he held leadership roles in the North West and nationally. His last role there was leading its UK transactional team, overseeing capital markets, leasing and development across the industrial, office and retail sectors.
Northern Gateway spans Bury and Rochdale and is part of the wider Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone, which also covers Oldham and focuses on advanced manufacturing, innovation, housing and infrastructure. One of its key projects will improve the road connection between the site and the M66 and M60 motorways, which is needed to unlock the next phases of development.
More than £100m of public funding has been spent on or committed to Northern Gateway, including more than £50m from the GM Good Growth Fund allocated by Greater Manchester Combined Authority in March 2026 for transport improvements.
“Meeting the ambition that we collectively have for Northern Gateway will take careful navigation of the very real complexities of delivering development and cohesive collaboration across both the public and private sector,” Cheap said.
Stephen Dance, chair of the MDC, said Cheap’s expertise “will be central to guiding the MDC as it works with partners to secure the necessary public and private investment to unlock new homes, jobs and longterm economic growth.”
More on development across the city region is in our property section.