New report about Rochdale’s heritage published

Date published: 11 September 2023

A new report about Rochdale’s heritage has been published by national charity SAVE Britain’s Heritage.

‘Boom not Bust: How Greater Manchester can build the future without destroying its past’ is a celebration of the region’s fine historic buildings – and an urgent call to arms to protect the more vulnerable buildings from the twin threats of redevelopment or neglect.

The report – published on Saturday 9 September – takes Rochdale, central Manchester, and Oldham as its central focus to make a wider point, with illustrated gazetteers and appraisals of the good work that is already underway in the towns.

The report applauds Rochdale’s work on the central area Heritage Action Zone with Historic England, saying it “echoes Rochdale’s pioneering work 50 years ago with the Deeplish Study on traditional housing.”

It adds that the report is intended to “assist in strengthening the debate around the protection and potential re-use of many buildings identified” whilst also looking at buildings that have little or no minimal levels of formal protection and make a case for urgent consideration.

It notes “there is much to celebrate in Oldham and in Rochdale but, sadly, much to concern us” before saying the Atom Valley proposals should “proactively encourage re-use as part of the mayor’s vision for regeneration.”

“It is heartening that Rochdale Borough Council continues to support the assertion that the town’s heritage, particularly in the town centre, helps to provide a springboard for the regeneration it is actively pursuing,” the report continues, praising the restoration of Rochdale Town Hall and re-opening the River Roch.

The report goes on to talk in detail about 28 vulnerable buildings in the area, from flats and hotels to public buildings, churches, schools, pubs and former mills. Some are listed buildings, but others are not.

Notable mentions include: the College bank flats, former Kingsway Hotel, Castleton swimming baths and the library, Blue Pits Inn, Empire, the Flying Horse Hotel, Fashion Corner, Champness Hall, the former Rochdale Observer offices, Rochdale Vintners, Bridgefold Mills, the Victoria Hotel, and the Fireground Museum.

SAVE Britain’s Heritage makes recommendations for particular buildings to be considered for listing or other protection, and where necessary call for beefed-up policy, joined-up urbanism and more funding.

'Boom not Bust' comes at a pivotal moment for Greater Manchester, with the publication of Places for Everyone and the Atom Valley strategy to level up the north of the conurbation – not to mention the climate crisis.

SAVE Britain’s Heritage argues that existing buildings have an important part to play in all these.

The report’s editor, Elizabeth Hopkirk, said: “By looking at examples in Manchester and beyond, we show that with imagination and the skills we already possess, historic buildings can be adapted for sustainable new uses, becoming a focus for civic pride and successful wider regeneration.”