The next phase in the transformation of Rochdale town centre’s shopping and leisure offer is under way following Rochdale Borough Council’s decision to approve the terms of a development agreement with Genr8.
Genr8/Kajima are already the council’s nominated development partner and the signing of the agreement will enable the developer to actively progress plans for a comprehensive development in the town centre.
The plans are for around 300,000 square feet of mixed shopping and leisure uses. The development scheme extends the existing centre down to meet the new Metrolink and bus interchange, creating a pedestrian-friendly gateway into the town centre from the river. A traffic-free Baillie Street would form a key part of the proposed scheme and a new entrance into the Wheatsheaf Centre from Baillie Street would replace the overhead walkways.
Following the opening of Number One Riverside, containing the new library, customer access centre and council offices early next year and the completion of the new bus interchange in autumn 2013, attention will focus on the demolition of the Municipal Offices, Telegraph House…