Northstone has completed the unconditional purchase of a development site in South Heywood, located north of Queen Elizabeth II Way in Rochdale.
The transaction includes land with capacity for up to 190 new homes, with a reserved matters planning application expected later this autumn.
The sale was led by Russell LDP on behalf of landowner clients The Casey Group and the Trustees of the Wilton Estate.
CBRE and Savills acted as joint agents on the deal.
The acquired site forms part of a wider 316-acre mixed-use masterplan for South Heywood. The masterplan was developed by Russell LDP and benefits from hybrid planning consent. It will eventually deliver up to 1,000 new homes alongside major employment space, a local centre, primary school, extensive green space and new sports facilities.
Senior Land Manager at Northstone, Katherine Ball, emphasised the development’s connectivity and its potential to help meet housing demand in Greater Manchester:
“We are delighted to have secured this new site in South Heywood, which represents an excellent opportunity to deliver much-needed new homes in one of the North West’s most accessible locations.”
The homes planned for South Heywood will be developed in line with Northstone’s sustainability principles.
The company said it intends to align its proposals with the Design Code approved for the wider masterplan, placing an emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainable construction.
“At Northstone we are incredibly committed to setting a new standard for new builds in every possible way; from the quality and leading eco innovations in our homes to the exacting standards in overall design with our Scandi principles and style and industry-leading sustainability initiatives. We believe that we provide something new to the new-build homes market and this commitment will be evident throughout our delivery at South Heywood.” — Katherine Ball
The site lies just seven miles from Manchester city centre and benefits from immediate access to Junction 19 of the M62 via a new link road opened in 2022. Its strategic location also places it near Atom Valley’s Northern Gateway project — one of Greater Manchester’s largest employment growth initiatives — bringing thousands of future jobs to the area.
Gary Lynch, Planning Director at Russell LDP, commented:
“This marks a highly successful site disposal and our fourth land sale within the South Heywood masterplan, further demonstrating the strength and continued appeal of this strategic development. We’re pleased to see sustained progress across the wider scheme, which continues to establish itself as a highly desirable location for both residents and businesses.”
This latest acquisition signals continued developer appetite for well-connected housing sites in the North West. For local contractors, suppliers, and housing professionals, the site offers potential opportunity as part of the wider delivery pipeline across Rochdale and Greater Manchester.
With reserved matters expected to follow in late 2025, delivery could start in 2026, subject to planning approvals. The development reflects wider regional priorities around housing growth, sustainable placemaking, and mixed-use regeneration.
