Housing developers eye up former brownfield site of Dunlop Mill

Royle Road, Rochdale

A housing developer has proposed plans to transform the former Dunlop Mill site on Royle Road in Castleton.

Countryside Properties have distributed a leaflet to local residents and businesses, proposing redeveloping the derelict brownfield land into a residential development with mixed housing types and tenures.

A planning application has not yet been submitted, but a suggested layout (pictured) has been included within the leaflet, showing what the site could look like, should plans go ahead.

The leaflet states the planned site is ‘designed to be a safe and attractive place to live’ that will provide a positive contribution and enhance the area.

Vehicular access would be provided via Royle Road with off-road parking being provided for each home.

Due to the decline of the cotton industry, most of Dunlop Mill was demolished in 1979 with the majority of the remains being demolished in 2012. In 2014, the blue tower and the part of the mill fronting Edinburgh Way were also demolished.

The original Dunlop Mill was built by R and T Howarth. The ground floor and basement were built in 1913 and the rest was constructed in 1919 and was a highly recognisable Castleton landmark.

In its heyday, Dunlop Mill employed around 3,000 people and it was, at one point, the largest cotton mill in the world.

It boasted seven-storeys and a half mile length, situated next to the Lancashire-Yorkshire railway, iconic for many rail travellers.

John Grealis, Regional Operations Director at Countryside, commented: “We have a number of new mixed tenure housing developments proposed for Rochdale, through which we hope to satisfy the increased demand for new homes while also raising the quality of housing stock across the borough.

"Countryside has a proven track record in creating desirable but sustainable communities and has a longstanding vision to work with Rochdale Council to create distinct neighbourhoods that offer a wide variety of home designs for purchasers and tenants alike.”