Developers invited to open day on Rochdale town centre redevelopment

An artist's impression of the new-look Rochdale Town Centre

Rochdale Council's bid to find a new town centre developer will see them host an open day to give potential developers the chance to hear a presentation on the opportunity and ask questions.

A European procurement decision concerning a Greek Council’s development project was cited as the reason for the Council's dramatic and costly decision to re-run its search for a developer in August this year, after Wilson Bowden was originally chosen for the £250million project.

The town centre redevelopment will see a new retail heart along with offices, housing and leisure facilities.

The open day will take place on Tuesday 16 December in Rochdale Town Hall ahead of a notice being placed in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) early next year.

It will also enable the council to gauge the level of developer interest in the project prior to issuing the formal invitation.

A Prior Information Notice will be placed later this month and a website, www.rochdaletowncentreopportunity.co.uk, will go live, aimed at giving interested developers a wealth of background information on the proposal.

The redevelopment site will include land currently owned by the Council, such as the existing Municipal Offices and bus station, which are earmarked for demolition to enable the centre’s transformation. A site for a new transport interchange has already been cleared and £13 million funding secured. A programme of commercial acquisitions is progressing with speed to clear way for a new £60 million Council HQ by 2011, funding arrangements for which are also agreed.

Roger Ellis, Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council said: “We are looking for innovative solutions to regenerate our town centre. There is significant public sector finance paving the way for longer-term private investment which we believe offers added security to interested partners during this more challenging economic period. The chosen developer would work with and be supported by a range of partners including the Council, Rochdale Development Agency, English Partnerships, North West Regional Development Agency and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.”

John Hudson, Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency said: “We now have the benefit of the last selection exercise and the public’s response to help guide the new invitation to developers. We can also offer even greater certainty this time having secured funding for the town centre transport interchange and with plans progressing for the new riverside Council headquarters, which will enable demolition of existing buildings to clear an impressive site for a new retail quarter. We would encourage all interested developers to come along to the open day and hear directly about how the process will work and the many benefits of investing in Rochdale’s future.”

The OJEU notice is likely to be placed in February/March, with a shortlist announced around May. There will then be a public consultation and closed dialogue period with a final decision expected to be made by Rochdale Council’s Town Centre Committee early in 2010.