Rochdale’s got the Property X Factor

Despite the winter weather, the borough is proving a hot spot for investment. Councillor Peter Williams, Deputy Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, is pictured (left) with RDA Chairman Phil Ewbank, on Kingsway Business Park celebrating the borough’s business success

Rochdale is an investment hotspot with major deals resulting in millions of square feet of property being taken up across the borough in the last two years.

More than 3 million square feet of industrial and commercial space has been occupied in the borough since April 2011, creating jobs and helping new and long-established businesses thrive.

Some 1.5million square feet of new business floor space has come out of the ground on Kingsway Business Park alone with the opening of ASDA/Walmart’s state-of-the-art chilled food and recycling centre and the 830,000 sq ft JD Sports regional distribution centre.

But it’s not just Kingsway that’s proving attractive. Other major investments include: 

• Camfil Farr, a world leader in the development and production of air filters and clean air solutions, set up a new 40,000 sq ft manufacturing unit at Birch Business Park in Heywood; 
• Comfy Quilts, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of quilts, pillows, mattress covers and bed linen has expanded at Stakehill in Middleton;
• Yearsley’s, a cold storage and distribution specialist, have taken ten acres of land at Hareshill Business Park in Heywood and are nearing completion of a 110,000 sq ft additional storage facility;
• INX International who supply ink and coating products throughout the world have built a new 40,000 sq ft unit also on Hareshill

RDA Chairman, Phil Ewbank, said: “These companies are national, European and global players and it’s our borough where they’re choosing to set up, or stay and expand if they’re already here.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that our recent investment success is a reflection of the quality of the employment sites we now have, especially along the M62. It is also testimony to what can be achieved when the public and private sector work together to the benefit of the borough. The effort is obviously paying off and we’re optimistic that 2013 will continue to be just as successful.”

Councillor Peter Williams, Deputy Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Everyone knows times are tough at the moment but that’s all the more reason for us to be proud and delighted by the businesses and investment we’re attracting right across the borough.

"The Council and its partners work hard to meet the needs of potential investors and give them a really positive experience, including help with local training and recruitment. Last year on Kingsway alone over 1,000 new jobs were created and 75% were taken up by local people. That is fantastic news for everyone.”