'Mayoral development zone' around Ashton-under-Lyne will showcase area on 'international level'

A ‘Mayoral development zone’ will be created around Ashton-under-Lyne which aims to showcase it on an ‘international’ level.

Tameside council chiefs have agreed to create a new strategic framework to support the council’s ambitions to develop growth in and around Ashton.

The aim is to ‘galvanise the progress’ already being made, and to raise the profile of the Ashton ‘innovation zone’ by engaging with Mayor Andy Burnham.

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The Ashton ‘innovation corridor’ is made up of St Petersfield, Ashton Moss and Ashton town centre.

Bosses say the areas represent a ‘unique cluster of opportunity’ which was boosted by the securing of £19.8m of government cash from the levelling up fund.

This will be used for the regeneration of Ashton town centre, including works to the town hall and the public realm area around the market square.

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Creating a Greater Manchester Mayoral Development Zone encompassing these areas, which will be known as the Ashton Development Zone, would work to ‘realise the potential’ of the areas and drive growth, according to the authority.

It would build on the success of the refurbishment Ashton Old Baths into a modern digital office space and data centre, and the