£100,000 art project will provide focal point for Middleton redevelopment

Artists and landscape architects are being invited to give their ideas for creating an eye-catching public space to mark the redevelopment of Middleton Town Centre.

Rochdale Development Agency is advertising for interested organisations to submit proposals for the Tesco sponsored project that will celebrate the regeneration of Middleton.

The landscaped artwork will provide a focal point between the Tesco Extra store and the town centre near Middleton Gardens. Construction is well underway on the state-of-the-art Middleton Arena sports and entertainment centre and the development of the store will start in January 2009.

The brief specifies that the entrance feature should include information boards, planting, seating and street furniture, however RDA is keen to seek imaginative ideas from interested organisations on how to bring the area to life and create a space that can be enjoyed by residents young and old.

Local people will be consulted on the short-listed entries in the summer and a final selection is expected in autumn.

Martin Ledson from Rochdale Development Agency said: “This will be an exciting project for the town centre and local people will have lots of opportunities to give their views on what they want to see. We hope that this new public space will be an attractive area for people to relax in and enjoy.”

The deadline for submissions is 16 May 2008.

The Tesco store is expected to create around 220 new local jobs. Construction of the Middleton Arena is being managed by Barr and is expected to be completed by December 2008.