Changes are in store for Rochdale’s town centre
AND TOWN HALL CHIEFS HAVE AN AMBITIOUS VISION FOR A TRANSFORMED BOROUGH...
ANYONE who has set foot in Rochdale town centre in recent months will know big changes are afoot.
The steel frame of what will become the Rochdale Riverside development’s new Reel Cinema now looms above the Smith Street Metrolink stop.
Foundations for the new Marks and Spencer building are in place.
The town’s new indoor market has opened in the former Santander building, while outdoor market stalls have moved to The Butts, following the opening of the River Roch.
In recent years, Rochdale council’s Number One Riverside offices, as well as a new transport interchange and Metrolink extension – thanks to a £250m investment in the town centre – have come to fruition. A further £150m investment yet to come.
But it’s not all about the centre. Town hall chiefs have an ambitious vision of a transformed borough powered by new housing, unrivalled transport links and booming employment sites.
The coming 12 months will see progress on a number of key schemes.
ROCHDALE RIVERSIDE
Work on the £80m retail and leisure development is already well under way – bolstered by Marks and Spencer’s decision to recommit to the project.
Bosses believe luring big name retailers such as Next, River Island, Boots and combining them with a Reel cinema and a range of cafes and restaurants, will bring success to the heart of Rochdale.
Building more town centre homes and capitalising on Rochdale’s strong transport links with Manchester, Leeds and further afield are all part of the plan to transform the town into one of Greater Manchester’s major players.
John Searle, Rochdale council’s head of economy, says this development shows the scale of the authority’s vision. “That’s where the council has been really ambitious,” he says. “There’s a retail and leisure scheme of over 200 sqft. It’s about bringing high street brands to the town - and it’s primarily about bringing high street brands that aren’t here already.”
Coun John Blundell, cabinet member for regeneration, business, skills and employment, said: “In some areas, retail is declining, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to decline everywhere – we shouldn’t be afraid of sticking our neck out. It’s not just about retail – you have to remember there’s a lot of leisure going in there. Because, if you want more people living in the town centre you have to have those facilities and amenities for people to use.” It is hoped the first phase of the development will be completed by summer 2020. The council is working up plans for a second phase with offices, a 120-bed hotel and 230 apartments.
ROCHDALE TOWN HALL REFURBISHMENT
A makeover of the borough’s stunning Gothic-revival style town hall is planned. Council bosses have secured initial approval for £8.9m
We shouldn’t be afraid of sticking our neck out Coun John Blundell, cabinet member for regeneration, business, skills and employment
funding. Plans for a town hall square include ‘dramatically improving’ the area around the building and creating a ‘high quality link’ with the Memorial Gardens. A landscape architect is to be appointed imminently and the square is expected to be finished in 2020. Proposed internal improvements could take longer.
DRAKE STREET HERITAGE ACTION ZONE
The only area in the north west to be granted Heritage Action Zone status. Once the town’s premier shopping area, Drake Street has long been in decline. But the project is set to bring a number of its historic buildings back into use – as housing or businesses.
FIRE STATION MUSEUM
The third of Rochdale’s big heritage projects is the redevelopment of Greater Manchester Fire Museum via a £1.7m Heritage Lottery Fund grant.
The ground floor of the former fire station, in McClure Road will be renovated to create a dedicated exhibition space for the museum’s exhibits. Town hall bosses have plans to convert the first floor for a different purpose.
SEVEN SISTERS
They have dominated Rochdale’s skyline since the 1960s, but five of the ‘Seven Sisters’ tower blocks in Lower Falinge are to be demolished to make way for 55 new family homes.
Planning chiefs gave proposals from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) the green light last month.
They will now be replaced with 33 one and two-bedroom flats and 22 two and three-bedroom houses. There will also be a new park and play area to create a ‘green heart’ at the centre of Lower Falinge. The controversial proposals were not universally welcomed by residents. But RBH has promised that affected tenants will be guaranteed compensation and rehousing priority for a like-for-like home. Those who wish to stay in the town centre will be able to do so.
KINGSWAY BUSINESS PARK EXTENSION
Rochdale’s plan isn’t all based around the centre. Kingsway Business Park, near Milnrow, is home to JD Sports, Asda and E.ON.
There are three schemes under way due to complete in mid-to-late 2019 including a 75,000sqft distribution centre and trade counter for a kitchen and bedroom manufacturer Trade Mouldings, and a facility of the same size for international logistics company Dachser. And the 60,000sqft ‘Logic at Kingsway’ scheme has 11 small light industrial units, to be let out to businesses from early next year.
SOUTH HEYWOOD MASTERPLAN
Planning chiefs gave the go-ahead for plans to transform the face of Heywood. The scheme includes creating a 1.5m sqft industrial estate, a new school and 1,000 homes over the following 18 years - the details of these parts of the plan are yet to be nailed down.
But a new 2.2km link road from Junction 19 of the M62 to the industrial parks of Pilsworth Road has full planning permission, with construction due to get under way in the autumn.
The plan attracted more than 260 letters of objection, from those opposed to the loss of green belt.
But planning chiefs found the benefits the project will bring outweigh the harm to the environment.