New home for engineers means more new homes for Rochdale

Karen Cheetham and Bill Oldham of Constell Engineers

Rochdale engineering company Constell Engineers Ltd’s move to new premises in the town has brought regeneration closer in the Wardleworth neighbourhood of Rochdale.

The Oldham Rochdale HMR Pathfinder, working with Rochdale Council, Rochdale Development Agency and the private sector is planning to develop hundreds of high quality new homes to the east of Rochdale town centre, including on the company’s former Nile Street site.

Constell is benefiting from the successful move to better premises with easy access to the M62 motorway.

The company specialises in the design and manufacture of dies and moulds for plastics and rubber and die-cast components used in a range of industries.

At their new premises they have been able to set out the workshop exactly as they want it and they hope to increase turnover through investment in new technology. They can operate throughout the day and night without upsetting neighbours, as they are no longer in a congested residential neighbourhood.

Close to the Nile Street site the partnership is already seeing great progress with 25 homes almost complete at Nelson Place, and work on 74 homes underway soon at Dale Mill in Hamer.

Liz Garsrud of Rochdale Development Agency said: “This is good news for the company, with a move to better, more convenient premises, but it’s also another step in offering a greater choice of high quality, energy efficient homes.”

The move is also helping Constell Engineers to improve the skills of its existing workforce, and attract more skilled staff at a more appealing location.

Managing Director Bill Oldham said: “It was important to us that the move took place quickly. We found that everyone involved helped everything go really smoothly. Our customers have seen it positively too.”

The move has protected nine jobs, which have remained in the town. “In new premises we were able to look at changing systems and machines, which may enable us to employ more.

“The investment in the area is clearly a good thing. As the town improves more people are attracted to the area.”