Regeneration programme reflects on six years of success

Revitalising Inner Rochdale.

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A six year programme aimed at revitalising inner Rochdale officially came to a close today (Monday 13 October).

The SRB5 programme closed at a celebration at the Town Hall. The event marked the end of the long-running regeneration programme and the start of new initiatives under the banner of 'Sustainable Communities'.

Rochdale Town Centre has benefited from the SRB5 scheme since the Rochdale Challenge Partnership first bid for Single Regeneration Budget funding in 1999.

The programme saw £25million invested in improving conditions in Smallbridge and Wardleworth, Central and Falinge, Newbold and Brimrod and Deeplish, which, between them, have around 31,000 residents. This area was one of the most deprived in the country at the turn of the millennium and was beset by high poverty levels, unemployment, ill-health, physical dereliction, poor housing, crime and social exclusion.

Around 100 people were at the Town Hall to recognise and thank the many project leaders, voluntary workers, panel members and officers who had been involved over the nine-year term.

Opening the event Abdul Hamied, Regeneration and Renewal Manager, who had been with the programme since its inception, said: "You have all helped to create a healthier, more prosperous, skilled and empowered community, living in a better environment, having access to high quality facilities and working in an enhanced and more competitive local economy."

Chris Khamis, an independent consultant who carried out a detailed evaluation of the programme, presented his findings at the event. He said that much had been achieved but there was still a lot to be done. He highlighted that nearly 2000 jobs had been created via SRB5 projects and huge investment had been put into business start-ups and managed workspaces, such as the Unique Enterprise Centre.

He also said: "Putting IT facilities and training in community venues so they were easily accessible helped improve the skills of local residents and the programme as a whole brought diverse communities together across a wide area."

Penny Sharp, Head of the Council's Regeneration Service explained how the solid foundations laid by SRB would continue into the future working closely with other funding streams and partners including Housing Market Renewal, Economic Affairs and Community Safety. The most important of these would be the ten-year Sustainable Communities programme which would use physical regeneration, such as the building of new affordable housing and the Town Centre developments as a catalyst for regeneration as a whole.

Music at the event was provided by the Back Door Music Project, who were one of the earliest beneficiaries of the regeneration funding.