Plans submitted for new shops, apartments and community base for Kirkholt

Proposed view along front of Community Hub/Retail Block

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Kirkholt is all set to get a new lease of life.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has submitted plans to Rochdale Borough Council to build new shops, apartments and a brand new community base on the estate.

The £7million scheme is jointly funded by RBH and the Council.

Kirkholt councillor and council leader Richard Farnell welcomed the news. He said: “I have been working hard for three years to bring these plans to fruition. It is really exciting the work is now ready to start.”

Once the plans have been approved by Rochdale Township planning committee, work will start demolishing the old shops on The Strand and the new buildings will start to be built. It is expected the work will take up to two years.

Councillor Farnell added: “There will be eight modern new shops with apartments above, and a state-of-the-art community centre over three floors which will be the base for RBH and community groups. There will be public function rooms and a community café. It really will be an impressive building right at the heart of the local community. It’s a new start for the area and the project is well supported by residents.

“There have been many false dawns about modernising facilities on Kirkholt, and many buildings such as the youth club and community centre have long been demolished Residents were getting disheartened, but now it’s a reality and I can’t thank local community groups enough who have worked hard alongside their local councillors to make sure it’s really happening this time.”

The new community centre will also be home to advice sessions, youth and toddler facilities and training rooms.

Talks are being held with the NHS to build a new Health Centre alongside the new community building.

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