Rochdale Celebrates National Recognition for Town Hall Restoration

Posted by on 17 Oct 2025

Rochdale Town Hall has been named Best Heritage Project in the UK at the RICS Awards 2025, beating iconic landmarks like Big Ben, the V&A, and Rosslyn Castle in a landmark win for the borough.                             

Widely regarded as one of the UK’s most important 19th-century buildings, Rochdale Town Hall has undergone a transformative £20 million restoration, unlocking the space for 21st-century public use. Delivered on time and on budget, the project has revitalised a tired civic building into a vibrant, inclusive destination that instils pride in the local community.

The restoration has opened up previously unseen spaces, introduced extensive repairs, and created over 3,600 volunteer, training, and job opportunities. A dedicated heritage skills studio has been established, and the surrounding public realm - once dominated by car parks - has been reimagined into a multifunctional civic space.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is a global professional body for those working in the built environment. Its UK Awards celebrate the most inspirational initiatives in land, real estate, construction, and infrastructure, recognising outstanding achievement and teamwork.

This win marks a proud moment for Rochdale and a celebration of its rich heritage, placing the borough firmly on the national stage for excellence in conservation and placemaking.

Other winners on the night included the Natural History Museum in London, the Stephenson Building at Newcastle University, the prestigious Welcome building in Bristol, and the Thames Tideway Tunnel in London.

Commenting on Rochdale Town Hall, the judges said: “This Grade I listed Victorian Gothic masterpiece, designed by William H Crossland, has been meticulously and sympathetically restored, including a series of design interventions which have been made to improve physical and intellectual access to this much-loved town hall. This exemplar restoration project is pivotal to the heritage regeneration of the whole borough and has ensured that this important 19th century building has its future secured and is now a place of pride for the Rochdale community.”

The prestigious annual event was held at the Hilton Park Lane.

Commenting on the grand final winners, RICS UK Awards National chairperson Kerry Gibbs said: “It is an honour to judge these awards. We had the pleasure of visiting each of the winning projects, and to meet with the teams behind them, and to see their passion is a truly heart-warming experience.

“These projects play an integral role in their communities, and wider local economies, and these awards allow us to recognise and celebrate the success of the surveyors across the UK delivering them.

“The teams and individuals behind these projects should be very proud of their successes, a huge congratulations to all of the winners.”