Investors at MIPIM 2025 will get an exclusive first look at one of the North West’s most exciting investment opportunities as the Manchester Stand hosts a panel discussion full of unmissable insights.

NorthFold is an unprecedented collaboration between Wigan and Bolton councils, together with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and developer-partners Peel Land.

With exclusive details from the project’s vision and delivery strategy, delegates will discover how NorthFold will become an international sports and leisure destination, a hub for the emerging sectors of health and food innovation, and a model for sustainable housing development.

Previously known as the Wigan-Bolton Growth Corridor, it is one of six growth locations identified under Places for Everyone and has a clear pipeline of infrastructure investment designed to unlock growth. By 2035, NorthFold is projected to deliver 9,000 new homes, £356.3m of GVA and 342,000 sqm of industrial space. NorthFold’s outstanding existing transport links will be enhanced by infrastructure improvements like the planned East-West Link Road (M58).

The fully completed link road would provide a reliable new route across Wigan and Bolton, unlocking access to NorthFold’s many housing and employment sites. Together with A577 complementary works, expected within 18 months of the link road, the improved road network will encourage more active travel and bus journeys.

Underpinning the vision for NorthFold are six catalyst projects across:

Bolton Town Centre: A £1bn masterplan to create 5,000 new town centre residents with a mix of retail, leisure, hospitality and employment space

Wigan Town Centre: Creating a destination that combines shopping with leisure, major projects include Wigan Galleries, Cotton Works and ultimately Wigan Station Gateway

Haigh Hall: The historic country house is being transformed into a nationally significant arts, culture and heritage destination

Hulton Park: 700-year-old estate being brought back into use with new homes, a hotel, retail, leisure and hospitality facilities, with potential to host the 2035 Ryder Cup

Health Innovation Bolton: NorthFold’s primary health innovation zone specialising in wellness and preventative medicine

NorthFold Food Innovation Centre: Potential to become a national cluster for food innovation and advanced manufacturing, building on existing strengths of big names like Heinz and Warburtons

Delegates will hear updates on catalyst project delivery and see how each scheme is poised to unlock further investment opportunities across the NorthFold footprint.

Taking place at 16:30 on Wednesday, March 12th on the Manchester Stand (C15B), the panel will feature:

Aidan Thatcher (Director of Place at Wigan Council)

Jon Dyson (Director of Place at Bolton Council)

Stephen Wild (Managing Director, Peel Land)

Melissa Wilson (Director at Deloitte)

The session is immediately followed by a drinks reception, sponsored by Bolton Council, which will be the ideal opportunity to meet the panellists and learn more about everything NorthFold has to offer.

Welcome to NorthFold: Investors to get first look at one of Greater Manchester’s most exciting growth locations at MIPIM 2025