Work starts on new shopping and leisure complex Rochdale Riverside

Posted by on 19 Mar 2018

Work to construct Rochdale‘s brand new £80m shopping and leisure development in the heart of the town centre is under way.

Contractors Willmott Dixon took possession of the site at the end of February and have been busy mobilising and engaging sub-contractors, with around £21m likely to be spent with Greater Manchester companies over the course of the two-year build.

Delivered by Genr8 and Kajima in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, the 200,000 sq ft development will bring approximately 24 new shops, restaurants and a six screen cinema to the town centre.

Next, M&S, JD Sports, Boots and River Island have already signed up to the scheme, alongside Reel Cinemas. The development is due to open to the public in summer 2020.

The development is the final part of a £250m investment package which has transformed Rochdale town centre beyond all recognition since 2011. Other schemes which have been delivered as part of the regeneration programme include the new customer service centre, library and council building, Number One Riverside, the new Rochdale Leisure centre, Rochdale Sixth Form College, (recently rated outstanding by Ofsted), and the award-winning river re-opening project.

Councillor Allen Brett, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “It’s great to see this flagship development now well under way. It will change the face of Rochdale town centre by bringing major high street names and creating a vibrant early evening economy. Rochdale Riverside is already having a positive impact, with new restaurants, cafes and bars, like the Wellington and the Medicine Tap, opening here because of the major investment developers are seeing in the town centre.

“Our next phase of regeneration, which will focus primarily on creating high quality housing in the town centre and further developing our fantastic heritage assets, is already under way, and we are looking forward to updating residents on this in the coming months.”

Mike Smith, partner at Gern8 Developments said: “We’re really pleased to see activity on-site. The scheme is over 60% let and with Willmott Dixon well underway with the construction programme we expect to be able to announce further lettings soon.”

Lambert Smith Hampton represented the council on the Rochdale Riverside project, providing development and investment advice. Cheetham & Mortimer and JLL are representing Genr8 and Kajima.

A number of road closures and parking changes will be implemented as the Riverside build progresses. Residents can keep up-to-date by checking rochdaletowncentre.com

Picture L-R: Anthony Dillon, managing director, Willmott Dixon, John Searle, director of economy at Rochdale Council, Cllr Allen Brett, leader of Rochdale Council, Latifah McIntosh, design co-ordinator from Willmott Dixon, Steve Rumbelow, Chief executive of Rochdale Council and Mike Smith, managing director of Genr8 Developme