Planning submitted to redevelop Touchstones

Date published: 23 August 2023

A planning application has now been submitted to redevelop Rochdale’s arts and heritage centre, Touchstones.

The Grade II listed venue closed on 12 August to allow for extensive refurbishment, which is expected to take around 18 months. If approved, work is due to commence at the beginning of 2024

North-west based Hive Projects are leading on the project management, with architects Architectural Emporium, heritage architect BB Heritage Studio and landscape architect Gillespies.

Structural and civil engineers Sutcliffe are working alongside quantity surveyor Identity Consult and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers Steven Hunt & Associates. Jenson Hughes are the fire consultant.

The planned works are part of over £8.5 million invested into arts and culture in the borough over the next three years thanks to Arts Council England funding.

Touchstones was originally built in 1884 as a public library before further development in 1903, 1913 and 2002. Its first phase was constructed in a free-Elizabethan style, designed by Jesse Horsfall and built by T. Berry and Son. It was commissioned after the original library in the town hall was damaged by a fire that destroyed the clock tower and opened on 30 October 1884.

Funding from the town’s wealthy mill owners led to the construction of the two-storey museum extension in 1903, again designed by Horsfall. The 1913 extension incorporated additional museum space and two further galleries and was designed by the local council Rochdale Corporation’s architect, Mr P. W. Hathaway.

Touchstones currently accommodates five temporary galleries, a ‘learning space’ hosting workshops, talks and special events, a local history display and the local studies centre, plus a café and shop. The building is operated by the council’s leisure and culture partner, Your Trust, who are also partners in the project and Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) are managing the project on the council’s behalf.

Under the plans, the museum part of the venue on the ground floor will form the new dedicated artist studios to offer workshops for public use, whilst the current resource library and local studies will be completely cleared out and stripped back to its original proportions for the performance studio. The existing mezzanine floor will be removed, and retractable bleacher seating installed with a tech store and access to green room facilities.

The main entrance lobby will be stripped back to its original proportions with a smaller reception desk and fully accessible public toilets, changing facilities and a prayer room accessible from both adjacent areas, with improved ramp access.

The education spaces on the ground floor will remain in the same location but will be ‘completely reimagined’ with relocated storage, allowing for the original windows to be exposed and allowing for the space to be split into two rooms. A services ‘pod’ will be installed in the centre giving the two spaces access to dedicated toilets, painting facilities and storage.

The basement will be converted to provide an extensive co-working space with meeting rooms and other ancillary facilities which developers say “is a vital part of the aspirations of the new scheme.”

The purpose built gallery spaces on the first floor will be retained.

A new civic dining room will be created in the current exhibition space on the ground floor, which is described as “dated and significantly under-utilised.” The proposal suggests combining the day-to-day café use with exhibitions to “take full advantage of the original height and proportion of the space” and will become an interactive museum and dining area.

The original proportions and typology of the library will be restored as far as possible and original materials revealed, whilst furniture will also take its lead from the original library images to reference the historic use of the space. As many of the original details and materials will be restored with modern interventions using materials, colours and details, inspired by the original space.

The original library entrance – previously used only as part of the museum exhibition and for fire escape when required – will be restored to its original prominence with new more ‘open’ access arrangements and an outside seating area.

Refillable water points will be provided for both staff and visitors throughout Touchstones, with an aim for reusable items within the café. The existing boilers will be retained and new distribution installed to enable a future disconnection of supplied gas, and new LED lighting and power provided throughout the ground floor and basement.

There is no mention of reinstating Local Studies at Touchstones, which was relocated to Sparth Community Centre in May and June this year on a ‘temporary’ basis, and no space for it is shown on the plans. All previous facilities including computer access and the archives are available at Sparth Community Centre, which is also temporarily home to Touchstones’ Creative Education team.

Your Trust has confirmed Local Studies will be based at Sparth for at least three years, saying: "Local Studies recently moved to Sparth Community Centre where it will operate for the next three years, providing stability for the service whilst the long term plans are confirmed."
 

Read more: Temporary closure plan for Touchstones Rochdale ahead of redevelopmentPublished: 05 May 2023

Landscaping proposals include a raised flexible terrace space to offer outdoor dining, seating, exhibitions and gathering opportunities, plus planting along the building curtilage and increased cycle parking close to the main building entrance. The current parking arrangements on the Esplanade will remain unchanged.

There is also proposed improved disabled parking provision as part of the Town Hall Square public realm works which will also be within easy access of the building.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “We know Touchstones is a much loved space but it has a great deal more potential than is currently being realised and is in much need of updating.

“This investment will help to make much more of the asset we already have, creating more opportunities for local people and visitors from across the region to participate in and enjoy culture here.”

Mark Doyle, director of arts, heritage and wellness at Touchstones added: “We’re really excited about these redevelopment plans for Touchstones and we can’t wait to see the improvements made for the future. It’s a process which has involved a lot of planning to cause minimal disruption whilst still providing a beacon of community activities in as much capacity as possible.”

The Cultural Development Fund supporting the Touchstones works is a Department for Culture, Media and Sport fund administered by Arts Council England.

To view the plans and submit your comments, please visit: https://publicaccess.rochdale.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=RVZ280NBKVB00