H Bell & Sons win prestigious building award for Rochdale indoor market

Date published: 09 May 2019

H Bell & Sons Rochdale has won a prestigious North West Building Excellence Award for their work on the Rochdale Indoor Food Hall & Café.

The building contractors won the award for the Best Small Commercial Project at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday (26 April).

The Food Hall, formerly the Santander Bank, was converted to the new market food hall by H Bell & Sons on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency in a £750,000 transformation.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/127232/h-bell-and-sons-shortlisted-for-building-awards-for-work-on-rochdale-indoor-market

The new market boasts a traditional greengrocer, as well as long-standing Rochdale market stall, Jordan’s eggs and plant nursery, and a café on the first floor.

The building was fully refurbished with a lift installed, allowing access to Montagues Café, which overlooks the uncovered River Roch and surrounds the building’s newly-constructed atrium.

H Bell & Sons Account manager, Louise Scott said: “We are delighted to have won this award and to go into the grand finals later this year.

“We would like to acknowledge our operatives along with our suppliers and sub-contractors who worked on the project and share the award success; thanks go to Medway Heating, IDL Engineering Services, GTM Electrical, Winton Flooring, Aspinall Interiors, Smith & O’Connell (decorators).”

John Searle, director of economy at Rochdale Borough Council and chief exececutive of Rochdale Development Agency said: “We are in a very fortunate here because we have some stunning public realm and historic buildings, which we are keen to enhance and maintain to the highest standard. Our multi award winning river reopening scheme really set the bar high and shows what we can achieve. I’m thrilled that we have replicated this quality with the restoration of the historic market hall, which sits in the heart of the town centre conservation area.

“This important area will get even better in the near future, as we press forward with major projects, including the £3m transformation of Town Hall Square and the improvement of buildings on South Parade and Drake Street as part of our Heritage Action Zone project.”

Successful finalists will go to the LABC Grand Finals in London at The Park Plaza this November.