£60m town centre retail and leisure scheme plan submitted

A DETAILED planning application for the £60m retail and leisure development of Rochdale town centre has been submitted.

Including a six-screen cinema and parking for 350 cars, Genr8 Developments’ scheme, branded Rochdale Riverside, covers 200,000 sq ft and includes 24 retail and leisure units ranging from 1,000 to 20,000 sq ft, and is part of the £250m regeneration of the town.

It is anchored by a 50,000 sq ft M&S and a 22,000 sq ft Next. Reel Cinemas has signed to operate the cinema which will sit above the retail and leisure element of the scheme.
 
The retail units will all be constructed to a height of around 10 metres to allow retailers to trade from both ground and mezzanine levels.

The scheme is being delivered jointly by Genr8 Developments and Kajima in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council. Letting agents are Cheetham & Mortimer and Lambert Smith Hampton.

Partner at Cheetham & Mortimer, Warwick Smither, said: “This is a major milestone in the delivery of this exciting retail and leisure development in the heart of Rochdale.  

“We are in detailed negotiations with a number of major operators who are looking to secure representation in Rochdale Riverside.  

“On top of the tenants already secured, these additional retailers and leisure occupiers will help reposition Rochdale and regenerate the whole town centre.”
The application is expected to be considered early in the New Year. Demolition works have already started and construction works are programmed to start by late summer 2017.”

Cllr Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This is a hugely important milestone for the regeneration of our town centre. The new stores and high street names will attract new shoppers back to town and give a massive boost to all retailers. It’s a unique mix of retail and leisure which will create 1,000 new jobs and boost the local economy by £17m.

“This is a red letter day for Rochdale and yet more evidence in the turnaround of the fortunes of our town centre.

“Rochdale Riverside is an important part of our £250m regeneration programme, which has transformed Rochdale beyond all recognition since 2010. This latest milestone is another boost to our borough’s retail offer, coming just weeks after the submission of a planning application for a brand new Rochdale Market.”

The scheme has been designed by TP Bennett Architects and an exhibition of the development proposals will be on display at the Council Offices, No.1 Riverside from will be on display from Monday November 28 for two weeks.

Rochdale town centre scheme

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