Call for remaining empty shops on The Strand to be let

The Strand, Kirkholt

Kirkholt councillor, Dale Mulgrew has written to the chief executive of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to ask him if he can let the last remaining empty units within the Strand shopping precinct.

The Strand shopping arcade is the main shopping district for the Kirkholt Estate and the management of this retail zone was transferred over to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing when it became an independent mutual company during the spring of 2012.

A copy of the letter is below.

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Dear Gareth Swarbrick,

RE: Remaining empty shops on the strand shopping arcade

Since RBH took on the management of the Strand shopping Arcade in Central Kirkholt, it is encouraging to see there has been movement towards better times for this key community district.

Beforehand the Strand was looking tired and had a glut of empty shops. But of late there has been progress on re-letting some of these units and a recent investment from RBH which delivered a spruce up over the summer. This means things are looking as well as they can be, although we still need a significant regeneration scheme to be delivered for this area.

I appreciate RBH continues to work on the latter and has a group in place tasked with looking at the options for this wider regeneration aim. That said, this is going to take some time and there still remains three empty units on the Strand. I am aware there is significant interest in these empty units. So I ask whether it would be better for the Strand if all units are let, which would generate more interest, stimulate more visits and shoppers and continue to help ensure the economic health of this shopping precinct is as good as it can be under the circumstances. Surely it is better for all units to be let without any hint or sign of a vacancy, so reducing this negative aspect; while at the same time productively using all the space available.

Furthermore, I understand that some of the approaches made are from interested parties who will bring a community benefit to the estate.

It is my understanding that for some of these units there is a modest investment which is required to bring them up to a minimum standard - given the regeneration already referred to will still be at the very earliest a couple of years away, surely it is better to ensure the Strand in the short term is supported as much as it can be, as it serves one of RBH’s largest housing estates?

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours sincerely, 

Councillor Dale Mulgrew