Vacant community centre could have new lease of life as repair centre for upcycled furniture

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

The former Greave Community Centre, Denehurst Road, Rochdale

A former community hub could be given a new lease of life as a furniture repair centre and showroom.

Plans to convert the long-vacant Greave Community Centre, in Rochdale, have been brought forward by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) – the borough’s largest social housing provider.

RBH is proposing a series of works to modernise the Denehurst Road building in order to 'provide a space to receive, repair, store and sell donated items'.

A document submitted in support of the new planning application says the shop will be used by residents who make up ‘the RBH community’.

“The proposal will see an existing community hall changed to a community furniture and home goods restoration centre and showroom (retail) for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH),” it adds.

The scheme proposes only ‘minimal’ internal redevelopment work to update the stone panel-clad building generally and enable the change of use to a showroom.

These include converting the female toilet facilities into a laundry room, while the men’s would be used as a room for testing portable electrical appliances.

Externally, however, the scheme would involve alterations to the existing metal railings and low brick wall at the front of the building. And there will also be a grading of land to allow for the formation of a new vehicle access and access ramp.

There are currently seven parking spaces at the site, but the application proposes to remove two of these to allow vehicle access. A new van loading bay/parking space will be provided inside the yard.

RBH says all materials used in the redevelopment will ‘match existing where possible’.

A decision on whether to grant planning permission for the change of use and associated works will be made by Rochdale council.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter