21 new town centre businesses open

The Wellington, Drake Street, Rochdale

21 new businesses have opened in Rochdale town centre since 2015,  including an American-style restaurant, a traditional café and a bakery.

Two of the recent beneficiaries of the council’s small business support package are the grade II listed former Victorian coaching house, the Wellington Hotel, which has just re-opened as a gastro pub on Drake Street:

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112066/wellington-hotel-famous-rochdale-landmark-set-to-be-reopened-as-gastropub

...and Marnie’s hairdressers on Smith Street.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/1/business-news/112068/marnie%E2%80%99s-hair-lounge-opens-in-rochdale-town-centre

Both of the properties are owned by Millerbrook properties, which works across the North West.

Millerbrook director Richard Ward, said: “There is no magic bullet solution to regenerating a town centre; it is about a mix of different things, like you have here in Rochdale.

"Both of our new businesses benefitted from the shop renovation grant, but our tenants also cite the ongoing £250m regeneration as a major reason they have come. They are right next to the new town centre metrolink stop and transport interchange and will be opposite the new shopping and leisure development when it opens, so they know they will benefit from that footfall.

“Private developers are investing in Rochdale again. They see that the private sector is investing huge sums of money into projects like Rochdale Riverside and know that they would not do that if there wasn’t potential here. Once things like that happen, investors start to take notice.

"The fact that the council is also leading on this regeneration means they are really pro-active and supportive of new businesses who want to invest.”

The unit next door to Marnie’s hairdressers is set to open as another new shop before the end of the year, with plans for residential units above the shops, due to hit the open market early next year.

Mr Ward added: “Once we have renovated these two final units, that will be a total of £2m spent on these historic properties, which total 20,000 square feet and are right in the heart of the town centre. There has been a massive shift in our town centre from where we were five years ago and we want to be involved.”

Councillor Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We have invested almost £250,000 in small business support for Rochdale town centre to boost our high street in the last two years, and, with 21 new businesses in the town centre since we started, it’s clearly having a big impact.

“At the same time, we are working towards a new shopping and leisure development, as part of our longer-term £250m regeneration package."

The longer term regeneration of the town centre, which includes the new shopping and leisure development, Rochdale Riverside, is set to create around 1,000 permanent jobs, and has proven a driver for town centre investment.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/112127/contractors-prepare-the-ground-for-rochdale-riverside-retail-and-leisure-development

Councillor Farnell added: “With all this going on, we are now finding that a number of new businesses are opening without any council support because they want to be part of what we are doing here.

"Our next task is to look at reviving streets outside the core retail area, such as Drake Street, and we’re already working with the private sector on a number of options for this important part of our town centre.”

For more information on small business support available in Rochdale town centre,  visit: 

rochdale.gov.uk/smallbizhelp