Upperbanks sees buildings ‘topped out’ as final outline structures completed

Rochdale Borough Council’s Upperbanks residential development has reached a major milestone with all the outline structures now complete.

The final concrete slab has been laid, topping out the work that started in October 2021, with all buildings now fully erected and ready for other internal and external work to take place.

A ceremony to celebrate this achievement was held on 13 July with the leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Neil Emmott, among the guests in attendance.

The brownfield site, which is next to the new Rochdale Riverside retail and leisure development, is part of the council’s town centre regeneration plan. It will see a nine- and a ten-storey residential block with 242 brand new private apartments created for rent, along with a 146-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel.

The scheme has attracted over £20m of external funding, with over £17m coming from the government’s Future High Streets Fund and more than £3m from the Greater Manchester’s Combined Authority’s Brownfield Development Fund.

 

 

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said: “Completion of the frames of the buildings is a welcome sight and shows the great progress the council is making towards offering new homes to bring people into our town centre as part of our wider plans to regenerate Rochdale.

“It is good to see the project is running to time and, subject to progress made, should see completion in autumn 2023.

“Upperbanks forms part of a major investment into regeneration of the town and this project has seen local, sustainable jobs, including apprenticeships, being created that are of lasting benefit for our residents and the economy of the borough.”

The next stage in the project will see contractors Willmott Dixon move on to developing the three buildings internally, modelling each of the spaces with the buildings fitted out with dry lining, wiring and piping work taking place.

Meanwhile externally, brickwork and window installation for the hotel and apartments is underway.

 

 

Anthony Dillon, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “The completion of all three frames is a fantastic milestone for the Upperbanks project. We’re proud to be playing our part in creating a new housing and hospitality offer which is unlike anything else we have seen in Rochdale.

“This is a really exciting time for Rochdale and the ongoing level of investment is a blueprint for town centre regeneration across the country.

“Alongside Rochdale Borough Council, Genr8 and our architect partners Leach Rhodes Walker and KKA, we’re committed to ensuring Upperbanks creates sustainable employment opportunities for local people and leaves a positive legacy.”

The final one of the three cranes which have been a fixture of Rochdale’s skyline, used for the construction of the buildings, will come down in the near future.

Upperbanks is a Rochdale Borough Council scheme being delivered by Rochdale Development Agency, with Willmott Dixon as the contractor.