Feasibility study on potential uses for grade 1 listed Town Hall

Photo: Journeaux

Rochdale Town Hall Grand Staircase

Potential new uses for Grade 1 listed Rochdale Town Hall are being considered by the Manchester offices of destination consultants Colliers Destination Consulting and BDP, a major international interdisciplinary practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists.

The two firms have been appointed by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council to provide a feasibility study to identify possible new uses for the Town Hall which dates from the 1800s and is renowned for its striking Gothic architecture.

The Town Hall currently houses a number of council departments and registry services and is used as a venue for events and functions.

But new uses for space in the Town Hall have to be found because the Council is moving its offices to the purpose-built No 1 Riverside building.

Alan Davies, BDP architect director, leads BDP’s Historic Environments team in Manchester and is leading the BDP/Colliers study team. He said: “Rochdale Town Hall is one of the finest Victorian town halls in England and is a major heritage asset for the borough. We are very pleased to be assisting Rochdale Council to maximise its potential as a cultural, heritage and community asset. We will be looking at how the building can serve some of its current uses better and how it can accommodate new uses which will ensure it has a viable and sustainable future."

Rebecca Abushena, senior analyst at the Manchester office of Colliers Destination Consulting, has started market analysis for the project whilst BDP has begun an assessment of the building and its setting, to determine what is possible architecturally and spatially.

Rebecca said: “One of the main aims of the feasibility study is to increase public access and interest in the building and to make recommendations to help the Town Hall to be financially sustainable so future generations could use and enjoy it.”