Views sought on Rochdale’s retail and leisure development

Residents will be given their first glimpse of early plans for Rochdale’s proposed retail and leisure development at a public consultation event next week.

Visitors to the town centre exhibition will be able to comment on the development framework, which covers aspects of the scheme such as layout, access and general design.

The development framework and the feedback received at the consultation will help to guide a more detailed planning application, which will be submitted later this year.

The public consultation will be run by Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency in collaboration with their development partner, Genr8 Developments LLP.

Council Chief Executive Steve Rumbelow said: “This is an important next step in the council’s commitment to rejuvenate Rochdale town centre. There is still a lot of work ahead but this consultation will help Genr8 our development partner bring forward detailed proposals and submit a planning application later in the year.”

Mike Smith, partner at Genr8 Developments said: “We are now in the position of negotiating with potential occupiers with real confidence about the development timetable. This is a prime site right in the heart of the town centre and immediately next to the new transport interchange, the town centre Metrolink stop and the iconic new council offices and library. We are really excited about this opportunity and believe others will be as well.”

Following the consultation, Genr8 will start work on a detailed design, with a view to submitting a detailed planning application, comprising retail, cinema, bars, restaurants and other uses, as well as car parking.

The Genr8 development forms part of a £250m regeneration of Rochdale town centre, which has included the award winning customer service centre, council office and library at Number One Riverside, the arrival of Metrolink into the town centre and the new transport interchange.

The consultation event will take place at the following times and locations:

Bar 5 on South Parade, Rochdale 

• Tuesday 10 February from 11am until 7pm  
• Wednesday 11 February from 10am until 5pm

 

Number One Riverside

• Thursday 12 February from 10am until 5pm

 

More information about the consultation and the town centre regeneration can be found at www.rochdaletowncentre.com or on Twitter @RochdaleCentre