Approval for homes at Rochdale’s former Central Retail Park
The local council, in collaboration with construction partner Willmott Dixon, can push ahead with plans to build 223 homes at the publicly-owned town centre plot.
The redevelopment of Rochdale’s former Central Retail Park, which the council bought from Town Centre Securities for £13m in 2018, will feature 81 houses and a five/six-storey building with 142 apartments and ground floor commercial space.
Rochdale Council’s planning committee approved the scheme late last year.
Plan Red and architect Leach Rhodes Walker are working on the project. Walker Sime is providing QS and project management support. To learn more about the development, search for reference number 22/01119/FUL on Rochdale Council’s planning portal.
In 2020, Capital&Centric revealed it was working up plans for a 200-home scheme on the site, designed by ShedKM.
However, the developer stepped away from the project last year, as revealed by Place North West.
At the time, Capital&Centric co-founder Tim Heatley said: “Wilmott Dixon, the council’s pre-procured contractor for the project, wanted to progress the neighbourhood in a way that didn’t hold true to our vision.”
Wilmott Dixon is active elsewhere in Rochdale. In 2020 the company completed Rochdale Riverside, the 200,000 sq ft retail and leisure venue. The firm is currently on site delivering phase two of that scheme, which features 242 apartments and a Hampton by Hilton hotel.
A very welcome development. This area of Rochdale has seen decline and has been unattractive for years. Yet it retains gems from the past, notably the wonderful former Fire Station, now the Fire Ground Museum. Being close to the railway station, more sustainable residential development is needed. However, the site also occupies what was the former Rochdale Canal branch. That needs to be dug out and reopened to brig the benefits of waterside developments and tourism. Roy G Chapman, MD Lynwood Transtec.
By Roy G Chapman
Rochdale does transit orientated development. If this is successful it’s starts to revive the Drake Street corridor back into the town. Nice work!
By Rich X
What’s the planning application reference number?
The visual looks great – quality high density housing near the tram and train station is exactly what Rochdale needs to start attracting new residents and small businesses.
I wonder what the “creative differences” were for C&C to drop out… let’s hope Wilmott Dixon and Leach Rhodes Walker can deliver something high quality and sustainable.
By W
Nice to see some balconies but they look a bit small
By Balcony warrior
This development completely ignores the underlying historical canal basin (with intact groundwork’s) and amounts to cultural and architectural vandalism.
By John Butterworth
The words “massive missed opportunity” and “cultural vandalism” spring to mind!! Shame on you Rochdale council. The people of the borough deserve a LOT better!!
By Rick Stebbings
Rochdales historic canal basin will be lost forever if this plan goes ahead! Shocking that the council are throwing away the chance to excavate the site!!
By Liz