New canal-side business centre helps kick-start regeneration

The Lock 50 business centre

A new business centre was officially launched in Rochdale today (Friday 8 February), offering an ideal location for ‘next stage’ companies.

The Lock 50 business centre (next to Lock 50 of the canal on Oldham Road) is in a prime area earmarked for millions of pounds of investment in the coming years.

The £1.8 million development has been led by Rochdale Council and the construction of the three storey building has been managed Pennine Land, the development arm of Rochdale Development Agency. It was funded by Rochdale Council, SRB5, the North West Regional Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund.

The 12,000sq ft centre, being managed by North Manchester Enterprise Group, provides excellent business space for expanding companies. And its first tenant has already moved in - Rochdale Development Agency has located its full operation from Partnership House in the town’s Sparrow Hill.

Councillor Alan Taylor, who has been leader of Rochdale Council since 2006, said: “We continually strive to create an environment where businesses can grow. Creating new jobs and increasing prosperity is a key priority. Although we look to the private sector to play a leading role in this, the council also works alongside our partners to provide the additional support businesses need.”

Councillor Taylor continued: “We see Lock 50 as the perfect stepping stone for companies that have outgrown the council’s Globe house managed offices, allowing them to thrive, then eventually outgrow this space and possibly move to Kingsway Business Park. Lock 50 will become a hub of enterprise activity and will provide a catalyst for the whole area around the Canal Basin.”

Lock 50 is Pennine Land’s first new build project. Established by Rochdale Development Agency, Pennine Land will carry out commercial and residential development schemes, with profits being reinvested in regeneration initiatives in the borough. Last year the organisation delivered the successful refurbishment of a former police station in Heywood into a managed workspace. The company operates as the interface between the public and private sectors.
Bob Dyson, the chairman of Pennine Land and Head of Development Consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (North West) said:  “Pennine Land is unusual in that any profits from developments are pumped back into regenerating the local area.

“We are delighted to have completed our first new build project, building on the success of our first major refurbishment of The Old Police Station (TOPS) in Heywood. It is now a thriving managed workspace supporting a variety of small businesses with big ambitions. Like that project, Lock 50 has been delivered on time and on budget and we hope it will have the same impact. We aim to promote environmentally sustainable developments and to attract new businesses into urban areas.”

Lock 50 offers quality, flexible office accommodation from 381 sq ft at economic rents. The managed service includes phone answering and secretarial services, parking facilities and a conference room. To find out more about available office space contact Ania Stark, Centre Administrator at North Manchester Enterprise Group on 01706 751150.