Three big names head for
THREE big high street names have signed up to the £100m transformation of Rochdale town centre.
Boots, River Island and JD Sports are to open stores in the new Rochdale Riverside development, council chiefs have announced today.
It’s a welcome boost for the ‘gamechanging’ new shopping and leisure scheme, after Marks and Spencer announced last month it was pulling out of the development.
The three firms will invest about £3m in new stores.
And town hall chiefs say the move secures their long-term future in Rochdale in ‘incredibly challenging trading conditions.’
But it’s also led to concerns it could have a damaging effect on Rochdale’s main shopping precinct and one of its existing shopping centres as all three firms will close their current town centre stores to make the move.
Boots and River Island are currently based in the Exchange Shopping Centre, while JD Sports is just yards away on Yorkshire Street.
Coun John Blundell, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The fact that three more well-known brands have committed to this fantastic new development is a clear sign that they want to be part of Rochdale’s long term future, despite incredibly challenging trading conditions in towns and cities up and down the country.
“These brands have seen the millions of pounds of investment which has gone into Rochdale town centre in recent years and really want to be part of the exciting future that we’re delivering for our residents and visitors.”
But Coun Ashley Dearnley, leader of Rochdale’s Conservative Party, said: “I am pleased that these three stores have committed to the new town centre, but it is still very important that we get new stores into the development to encourage shoppers to come.
“Next and Reel Cinema are committed to the scheme, but I still feel we are badly in need of something different to what we already have to make sure Rochdale Riverside is a success.