BLUEPRINTS to drive forward an economic regeneration area for Bolton and neighbouring Wigan will be debated by city region leaders next week.

Plans for the Wigan & Bolton Growth Corridor are one of six initiatives designed to transform the conurbation's jobs and housing outlook.

Several key employment areas, some already developed, like Cutacre, Wingates and Chequerbent, form the backbone of the scheme. Controversial plans to develop the Hulton Estate, backing the Ryder Cup ambitions of the project's backer, are one important factor. And the regeneration of land around the Royal Bolton Hospital, to create a 'health village', is another.

In a joint report to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority's planning and environment overview and scrutiny committee, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, housing and infrastructure portfolio lead and Steve Rumbelow, lead chief executive, are asking councillors to back all six masterplans.

Others include the North East Growth Corridor, around Bury, Rochdale and Oldham, and the Airport and Southern Growth Corridor. The Eastern Growth Cluster covers Ashton, the Central Growth Cluster is for Manchester and Salford and the Western Gateway for Trafford and Salford.

The joint report says: "The Growth Locations each include unique opportunities and assets to respond to the variety of needs and challenges present in different parts of the conurbation.

"The (locations) will provide the platform for a levelling up approach across GM, by creating value through new development and in turn ensuring that the resultant benefits and outcomes are experienced across wider GM communities."

The Wigan and Bolton scheme wants a 'quality bus corridor' between the locations, the conversion of the Atherton line for train-trams and the electrification of the Bolton to Wigan rail line. This would form part of plans for 13,000 new homes and one million square feet of employment land.