Marks & Spencer will relocate to the Riverside Development

Marks and Spencer, Yorkshire Street, Rochdale

It has been confirmed today (Tuesday 28 August) that Marks & Spencer on Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, will relocate to the new Riverside Development.

Lisa Rogers, Head of Region for Lancashire and Cumbria at Marks & Spencer, said: “We’re still finalising the plans, but we’re pleased to be able to update the Rochdale community that we will relocate to the Riverside development.

“Our Riverside store will offer customers a better experience including bringing an M&S café to the town for the first time.

“We’re adapting our UK store estate to offer our customers better located and more inspirational environments to shop, alongside growing M&S.com.

“This means taking some tough decisions and constantly considering what is best for our customers current and future shopping needs.”

The news follows an uncertain future for the British retail giant, which declared it was pulling out of the development in November 2017 – just months after the council bought the current Yorkshire Street location for £4.5 million.

M&S originally committed to opening in the proposed development in 2015.

Tony Lloyd MP said:"Today’s announcement by Marks & Spencer is a shot in the arm for the regeneration of Rochdale’s town ventre.

"We know that Marks & Spencer up and down the country is cutting back on its stores so the decision is a massive vote of confidence in Rochdale as a town and as a regional retail centre."

Rochdale Borough Council leader, Councillor Allen Brett, said: “Today’s confirmation that M&S will be part of our fantastic £80m Rochdale Riverside development, despite challenging trading conditions for high street stores up and down the country, is testament to the huge potential they see in our town and its continuing transformation. Rochdale Riverside will change the face of Rochdale, bringing more top quality high street stores to the heart of the town centre, alongside a six screen cinema and a number of restaurants and cafes.”

Chief executive of Rochdale Borough Council, Steve Rumbelow, added: “Rochdale is undergoing a significant renaissance in terms of public realm and its retail and leisure offer and M&S’s commitment to our new scheme is further evidence that the £250m regeneration of the town centre is strengthening the town’s reputation. With a further £150m set to be invested in Rochdale town centre over the next five years, it’s a very exciting time for Rochdale and we’re thrilled that M&S has reaffirmed its commitment to the scheme.”

Mike Smith, partner at Genr8 Developments, said: “We are delighted that M&S has reconfirmed its commitment to Rochdale Riverside. Construction is well underway, and we are on-track to open to the public, Easter 2020. We have a fantastic line-up of tenants already committed to the scheme with further announcements imminent.”