Construction work starts on Middleton Arena

The launch party see the beginning of construction work on Middleton Arena

Construction has started on a new £13 million leisure and civic centre in the heart of Middleton town centre. The 7,300 square metre Middleton Arena will provide state-of-the art sports and entertainment facilities for the area  including two swimming pools, sports hall, exercise and fitness studios as well as a fully equipped performance and concert hall with seating for five hundred. Construction is expected to take around 18 months.

The Arena forms part of master plans created by Rochdale Development Agency to revive the town centre and follows the £4.5 million replacement of the town’s bus station. Over the coming years other improvements will see a new post office and retail development, improved office space, relocation of the market and creation of a new public square and modern new housing. 

John Hudson, Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency, said: “The new Arena is the second phase of a major regeneration of Middleton town centre that has already seen a modern new bus station and extension to the shopping centre. All of these developments are combining to significantly improve the attractiveness of the centre to shoppers and visitors from Middleton and further afield.”

The Middleton Arena will be managed by Link4Life, the Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust. Speaking about the new facilities, Managing Director Craig McAteer, said: “The project has been designed to ensure that local people benefit from uninterrupted leisure services and the new Arena will be open and in operation before the existing leisure and civic centres close. We are in the process now of planning the programming of the centre and consulting about future priorities. This is an exciting future for Middleton.”

The new development is the result of a deal negotiated by Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Council with supermarket firm Tesco. Delivery of the new facilities will be followed by the construction of a Tesco Extra store in the town centre that will create around 220 new local jobs.

Councillor Peter Williams, chairman of Middleton Township Committee welcomed the start of the build saying: “This is fantastic news for local people who have been eager to see their town centre improved. The new leisure services will attract new users and help to keep residents fit and healthy.”

Councillor Mohammad Sharif, Cabinet Member for Regeneration added: “The Arena is part of a whole package of plans to reinvigorate Middleton, breathing life back into the town centre and creating jobs to boost the local economy.”

The official launch party (pictured) were: Colin Veitch, Barr Construction, Steve Kelshaw, Barr Construction, Craig McAteer, Link4Life, Councillor Mohammad Sharif, Tony Fletcher, Tesco, Councillor Peter Williams, Dylan Thomas, Barr Construction, John Patterson, Rochdale Council, Jim Dobbin, MP, John Hudson, Chief Executive Rochdale Development Agency, Roger Ellis, Chief Executive Rochdale Council, Peter Jenkins, architect and Councillor Alan Godson