Transformation of town centre begins
WORK on the £80m transformation of Rochdale town centre has begun.
Contractors have started the massive job of building 24 new shops, restaurants and a six screen cinema on the area around Smith Street.
Next, M&S, JD Sports, Boots, Reel Cinemas and River Island have already signed up to the scheme, dubbed Rochdale Riverside.
The development is due to open in summer 2020.
Rochdale council leader Allen Brett said: “It’s great to see this flagship development now well underway.
“It will change the face of Rochdale town centre by bringing major high street names and creating a vibrant early evening economy.
“Rochdale Riverside is already having a positive impact, with new restau- rants, cafes and bars, like the Wellington and the Medicine Tap, opening here because of the major investment developers are seeing in the town centre.
“Our next phase of regeneration, which will focus primarily on creating ●●From left are: Anthony Dillon, managing director, Willmott Dixon; Coun Allen Brett, leader of Rochdale Council; Steve Rumbelow, chief executive of Rochdale Council and Mike Smith, managing director of Genr8 Developments as work gets underway on the £80m Rochdale Riverside project high quality housing in the town centre and further developing our fantastic heritage assets, is already underway, and we are looking forward to updating residents on this in the coming months.”
Mike Smith, partner at developer Genr8, said: “We’re really pleased to see activity on-site.
“The scheme is over 60 per cent let and with Willmott Dixon well underway with the construction programme we expect to be able to announce further lettings soon.”
As the Observer reported on Saturday, Chichester Street-based civil engineering company Hovington Ltd has won a £6m contract to work on the drains and foundations of the scheme. It’s part of a drive by contractor Willmott Dixon to spend 80 per cent of their budget and labour on the project within Greater Manchester, with 30 per cent of that being spent in Rochdale.