Quarterbridge still yet to be formally appointed as Rochdale Market operator

A computer generated image of how the new market could look

Quarterbridge is still to be formally appointed the operator of Rochdale Market - over five months after the contract was expected to start.

Quarterbridge was announced in February as the future operator of the market after winning the tender process.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/107901/quarterbridge-new-rochdale-market-operator

A spokesperson for the Council confirmed drawing up the contract has taken a long-time due to the complexity of the document.

She said: “To ensure this important contract is robust and delivers everything we want to it to, we have sought the views of appropriate colleagues as we work towards a final version. As the contract is a complex document, this process has taken some time.

“Changes have been made to the draft contract, the details of which are confidential.

“Quarterbridge will be appointed once the contract has been finalised and agreed.”

Initially the market was expected to be operating from its new location on The Butts and at the Santander building by Easter. This was pushed back to summer but currently the Council has no date when the market is expected to be operating.

The spokesperson said: “We will have a clearer idea of timescales once the contract is in place.”

The Santander building and The Butts were the preferred locations for the market after it moved from the Exchange Shopping Centre in 2015, but work on opening the river on The Butts prevented the move. In the meantime, the market traders have been located on the temporary site of the old ‘Black Box’ for over two years without 'basic facilities'.

The site of ‘the black box’ has been earmarked for some time as the location of the long-awaited new Riverside retail/leisure complex.

At a planning meeting, it was confirmed work on the site could begin as soon as Autumn 2017.

However, if the Santander building is not ready for traders before the development goes ahead, the council has confirmed other options would have to be considered for the current market, including another ‘temporary’ relocation.

Preliminary work has been carried out to the Santander building to repair flood damage. Designs for the building will be finalised when Quarterbridge is finally appointed.