Central Manchester Development Corporation

Formation| 1988
Dissolved| 1996
Headquarters| Manchester

Chair

| Dr James Grigor OBE

Chief executive

| John Glester
The six areas within the boundary of the CMDC: Pomona, Castlefield, Central, Gaythorn & Piccadilly

The Central Manchester Development Corporation was established in 1988 to develop parts of eastern Manchester.

## History

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The corporation was established as part of an initiative by the future Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Heseltine, in 1988 during the third Thatcher ministry.[1] Board members were directly appointed by the minister and overrode local authority planning controls to spend government money on infrastructure. This was a controversial measure in Labour strongholds such as East London, Merseyside and North East England.[2][3]

Its flagship developments included the Bridgewater Hall concert auditorium,[4][5] the Manchester Central Convention Complex[6] and the Science and Industry Museum.[7][8] During its lifetime, 1,500,000 square feet (140,000 m2) of non-housing development and 2,583 housing units were built. Around 4,944 new jobs were created and some £303m of private finance was leveraged. Nearly 86 acres (350,000 m2) of derelict land was reclaimed with 1.3 miles (2.1 km) of new roads and footpaths established.[9]

The Chairman was Dr James Grigor and the Chief Executive was John Glester.[10] It was dissolved in 1996.[11]

## References

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1. ^ "The Central Manchester Development Corporation (Area and Constitution) Order 1986". Legislation.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
2. ^ Parkinson, Michael; Duffy, James (1984). Government's Response to Inner-City Riots: The Minister for Merseyside and the Task Force. Vol. 37\. Parliamentary Affairs. pp. 76–96.
3. ^ Crick, Michael (1997). Michael Heseltine: A Biography. Hamish Hamilton. p. 238\. ISBN 978-0241136911.
4. ^ "The Bridgewater Hall – History and Architecture". Bridgewater Hall. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
5. ^ "The Bridgewater Hall". The Hallé. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
6. ^ "'Grigor fuelled Manchester's ambition', says Bloxham". Place North West. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
7. ^ "Eye Witness in Manchester". Aidan O'Rourke. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
8. ^ "Urban Generation Case Studies" (PDF). Geowilmington. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
9. ^ "Impact of Urban Development Corporations in Leeds, Bristol & Central Manchester". Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. 18 November 1998. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
10. ^ Fry, Kath; Cropper, Karen (2016). "Relationships with the Private Sector". Manchester 1984. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
11. ^ "The Central Manchester Development Corporation (Dissolution) Order 1996". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2018.