Rochdale awarded third highest amount from Future High Streets Fund

Posted by on 20 May 2021

Rochdale will receive £17.08m from the Future High Streets Fund.

The funding is the largest amount allocated in the North West, and the third highest in the country.

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for economy and communications at Rochdale Borough Council and RDA board member, said: “I’m delighted that Rochdale has been offered £17.08m, the third highest award of all 57 local authorities from across the country which were offered provisional funding from the Future High Streets Fund.

“This money, which we worked really hard to bring into the borough, will support the delivery of 242 brand new apartments in the heart of Rochdale town centre, alongside a Hampton By Hilton Hotel.

“This is a major boost to the ongoing £400m transformation of Rochdale town centre and is another vote of confidence in the ambition we have our borough and our ability to deliver it.

“Enabling work to transform this major brownfield site, which sits next to the Rochdale Riverside retail and leisure development, is already underway and construction is expected to start before the end of the year.”

Launched in December 2018 as part of the government’s plan for the high street, the £1 billion Future High Streets Fund is part of the government’s plan to make town centres more attractive by helping local leaders implement bold new visions to transform their town centres and make them fit for the future.

The funding could be used to improve transport and access into town centres, convert empty retail units into new homes and workplaces, and invest in vital infrastructure.

Rochdale was named as one of 100 towns to benefit from funding in August 2019.

The Rochdale development agency has worked with the council and developer Genr8 to deliver this project.