The Western Gateway is a key development for Greater Manchester, developing our connections with the Port of Liverpool, and the rest of the world.
The Port of Liverpool now has Freeport Status, and can accommodate the largest container vessels. Greater Manchester’s further development of our trade connections with the Port of Liverpool are therefore paramount.
The Western Gateway also provides for the economic growth of the Central Growth Cluster core economic area through the development of a tri-modal freight hub at Port Salford.
Port Salford’s further development will provide sustainable freight transport operations which will include rail and road links, on-site canal berths, rail spur and container terminal.
The Western Gateway has the potential to create 25,000 new jobs, capitalising on the unrivalled port connectivity and planned employment space at Carrington, Port Salford, Partington and Trafford Park, alongside the regional leisure, retail and hospitality destination at Trafford City. Logistics and distribution sector employment will be created, with opportunities accessible to local communities with existing skills in this sector and further opportunities for development. Employment growth will also be created in the low carbon energy sector, linked to the development of a low carbon energy innovation park at Trafford Park.
Significant brownfield sites will also be utilised for the creation of c.21,000 new high quality homes, bringing forward new sustainable integrated urban neighbourhoods. These new settlements will provide enhanced connectivity to ensure residents have access to key employment opportunities including major improvements in highway access, such as the Carrington Relief Road, and upgrades to the Carrington Spur and Junction 8 of the M60 alongside sustainable transport links.
In order to deliver the potential scale of development, it is essential that we deliver the necessary transport improvements and enhanced connectivity required to support the opportunities. This will include the progressive delivery of highway capacity through the Western Gateway Infrastructure Scheme on and around the core M60 section and the delivery of the Cadishead spur link and new bus routes. We will also develop the case for the expansion of the Trafford Park Metrolink route towards Port Salford.
