Castleton redevelopment met with optimism by business owners

The old bank in the centre of Castleton, now home to Rochdale Online

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New customers could soon be filing through the doors of Castleton’s local businesses, with owners looking forward to the redevelopment of the Whipp & Bourne factory site off Manchester Road.

Although some Castleton residents voiced concerns over flood risks and increased traffic, business owners in the village believe building more than 100 houses on the site will be good news from their point of view.

Claire Dring, who owns card, gift and balloon shop Forget Me Not in Manchester Road, believes the whole village could reap the benefits too.

“If it benefits Castleton then I’m all for it,” she said.

“There will always be downsides but it will boost business. It has to be better than this.

“If they go through with everything they said they would then it would be brilliant for the area - Castleton is dire at the moment.

“Although we’re doing OK, business can be slow. I do need more customers and hopefully this will bring them in.”

The development, which forms a major part of the regeneration of Castleton, will see Barratt Homes build 138 houses on the site and work is now underway.

All of the houses on the site, of which 60 will be three-bedroom properties and 78 four-bedroom, will be market housing and will have access for vehicles on to Manchester Road.

Terry Barker, whose wife owns hardware store Home & More, believes new properties in Castleton is always good news for the shop.

“A family moved in nearby earlier in the week, they came here and they spent ages buying scart leads, plugs etc.” he said.

“When a new family moves in they come here because we’re local and they can buy everything they need.

“New families mean new business.”

Mahesh Chauhan, who owns Craven’s Shoe Clinic directly opposite the site, hopes the development will boost his business after suffering since Whipp & Bourne closed.

He said: “It affected me when the factory closed, because workers used to come across here.

“We’re a small business in a small town - when lots of people move it has a big affect.

“We’re in a good location; it’s just across the street. Hopefully people will see my sign from their windows.”

Pharmacist David Harding also believed the development would encourage more customers to the Co-op Pharmacy on Elizabeth Street, although their location has worked against them so far.

“It will definitely be beneficial from a business point of view,” he said.

“The only way we’ve been affected at the moment though is they cut through a power cable, which shut us down for three hours!”

Finally Allan St Clare, who has recently returned as bar manager to The Commercial pub in Manchester Road, welcomed the news.

“I think it will be great, I’m definitely looking forward to it,” he said.