Shaping Rochdale's future

Shaping Rochdale's future

The transformation of Rochdale town centre continues to move on at a pace. Since 2010 the town centre and its close surroundings have undergone significant change.

The biggest change in the town centre is now complete following the demolition of the old bus station and the old Municipal Offices (the Black Box).

Work has started on a new entrance to The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre.

In the longer term the town centre redevelopment includes a mixed retail and leisure development, the re-opening of the River Roch and new uses for the Town Hall.

Footpaths will be created across the site where the Black Box was located, taking pedestrians across from the new Transport Interchange, Number One Riverside and Metrolink to the main shopping areas.

A car park will also be created on the site of the old bus station until the new retail and leisure development starts.

The old St Andrew’s Church and Broadwater Centre on Smith Street have also been demolished. Car parking for around 100 cars has been created on the site.

A new entrance for the shopping centre will be created on Baillie Street and will include new escalators and lifts. The Baillie Street entrance will remain open throughout the works for shoppers to access the centre.

Planned developments

A new retail and leisure development for Rochdale. The proposals include new shops, a hotel, a cinema and cafes and restaurants to boost the town’s evening economy along with new car parking facilities.

The development scheme extends the existing centre down to meet the new Metrolink and Transport Interchange.

The river to which Rochdale owes its name was once the principal feature of the town centre, but now runs hidden through a culvert. The £4m uncovering of the river will reveal a historic medieval bridge.

The Shopmobility unit was relocated to a temporary location on Baillie Street in June 2013. A new purpose built premises is proposed adjacent to the Transport Interchange along with a new cycle hub facility.

Private Sector Investment

There are encouraging signs that the significant changes taking place across Rochdale town centre are increasing levels of private sector investment.

The major investment being made by the Tetrosyl Group in converting the vacant Newgate House into their corporate headquarters and the proposed new Morrisons store on Smith Street opposite the Metrolink tram stop, is adding to the on-going transformation of Rochdale town centre.

Further private sector investment is expected to follow, building on this momentum and helping revitalise Rochdale town centre as a vibrant hub of economic, social and cultural activity.

The scale of the proposed changes to improve Rochdale town centre will inevitably cause some disruption. The council is working with contractors to keep disruption to a minimum.

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