Green light for Rochdale’s transport interchange

Rochdale’s new £11.5 million transport interchange

Rochdale’s new transport interchange has been given the go-ahead after funding for the scheme was announced by the government.

The new £11.5 million interchange on Smith Street will create a modern public transport hub for the borough - and is a key element of the regeneration currently taking place in the town centre.

It is hoped the interchange will improve journeys for passengers by providing a safe, comfortable environment for catching buses, along with a taxi rank and parking spaces for cyclists, a café, electronic passenger information displays and toilets. Located next to the town centre Metrolink stop, it will also make it much easier for people to transfer between services.

Council leader Councillor Colin Lambert said: “This is fantastic news for Rochdale and it confirms that our plans for transforming the town centre remain on track.

“It’s an exciting time for transport in Rochdale with Metrolink due to arrive at the railway station next year. This new interchange will integrate the regenerated town centre with modern joined-up transport infrastructure and I look forward to seeing construction start in April next year.”

The project is being delivered in partnership by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency. The government is providing £7 million for the scheme with the remaining funding coming from Rochdale council and TfGM.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chairman of Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “Rochdale’s innovative new transport interchange is a very striking landmark and will be a vast improvement for both passengers and bus operators, who currently use a very outdated bus station built in the 1970s.

“We’ve been competing with projects across the country for this funding so I’m really pleased that all the effort and hard work that went into making our bid as attractive as possible has borne fruit.”

The interchange forms part of Rochdale’s wider £250 million town centre regeneration programme, with the current bus station due to be demolished to free the site for the new retail and leisure development.

John Hudson, Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency, said: “This is excellent news – it’s just what we’ve been waiting for as it gives a major boost to our entire town centre regeneration programme.

“It means we can demolish the existing bus station and the council offices, to create space for the new retail and leisure development, with the confidence that our new public transport facilities will offer the high-quality experience that will be in keeping with the town’s transformation.”

Liberal Democrat group Leader, Councillor Wera Hobhouse, said: “I’m delighted that the government’s infrastructure investment is benefiting Rochdale. This is just the way that we can keep the local economy moving in these very difficult times.”

Work on the interchange is due to start in April next year and it will open in summer 2013.