Rochdale’s Wheatsheaf to make way for 443 homes
Closed since the pandemic, the 168,000 sq ft shopping centre could be demolished under plans being worked up by its Dubai-based owner.
DHA Corporates is working with Muse Architects on proposals for the redevelopment of the site of Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre, located at the heart of Rochdale.
The scheme would see the defunct retail complex knocked down and replaced with three apartment buildings and a row of townhouses totalling 443 homes. The current working breakdown is approximately 134 one-bed apartments, 201 two-bed apartments, 86 three-bed apartments, and 22 townhouses.
The development would also feature, 10 commercial units to activate the ground floor, a community hub building, and a significant area of public realm at its heart, designed as a new local meeting place for local residents, the project team has said.
One of the main aims of the scheme is to reconnect Yorkshire Street to the north of the site with the amenities at Rochdale Riverside to the south.
Rochdale Riverside, a rival retail and leisure complex, opened in 2020 just before the pandemic. The Wheatsheaf’s former owner MCR Property announced in November of that year that the shopping centre would not reopen after lockdown.
DHA Corporates acquired the building in 2022 for around £3m and in 2025 had plans approved to convert part of the Wheatsheaf into a wedding venue with a banqueting hall. However, this scheme is no longer going ahead.
An event is planned to showcase the redevelopment proposals on Thursday 2 July, interested parties can register their attendance here.
An outline planning application is expected to be lodged before the end of the year.
Mo Muse, founder of Muse Architects, said: “The project is not simply a development site; it is an opportunity to reimagine a significant piece of Rochdale’s town-centre fabric.
“Our proposal seeks to create a place of connection, identity and everyday life where people can live, work, meet and grow within a walkable, mixed-use neighbourhood at the heart of the town.”
He added: “The ambition is to bring together new homes, active commercial spaces, generous amenity, improved public realm and stronger pedestrian connectivity, so the site can support different generations living side by side. Subject to detailed design, consultant input, planning review and client approval, we believe Wheatsheaf has the potential to become a meaningful civic place for Rochdale; not only a residential scheme, but a renewed urban quarter with community, movement and long-term value at its centre.”
A spokesperson for DHA Corporates said: “We see the Wheatsheaf development project as a major opportunity to support Rochdale’s continued regeneration. Our ambition is to bring forward a high-quality mixed-use development that provides new homes, supports local activity and contributes positively to the town.”
Really ? Aren’t they demolishing the seven sisters – doesn’t that tell them something ?
By Tannoy
I don’t think this design looks at all pleasing, Falinge Ashfield valley ghetto of the future – as many houses/flats in one spot as is possible. With units underneath, horrific.
So much potential for something inspiring brave and classy, and Rochdale gets this? No surprises there.
And why if they are building on all this shopping centre are they still building on the greenbelt? So basically they are building on both, a massive sprawling overheating jungle of concrete.
By Milner
It’s not worked well in Bolton place first still can’t fill them it’s been 18 months , people can’t afford renting especially when Bolton city living cost £950 a month for a one bed paint it white flat , Halifax is the same and longsight elevate. Check it out Facebook is covered with placefirst ads
By Anonymous
Just worth noting that Facebook ads are usually catered to the individual…
By Julia Hatmaker
Were are they all going to Park if they have cars more congestion. More pressure on local Schools & Dr’s.
By Anonymous
Two blocks of apartments have been built on John Street, the uptake of these has been minimal and has attracted an undesirable element. The new shops at Riverside have drawn people in and we could do with Rochdale getting back to having a decent market (Bury market is very popular). If the housing development does go ahead, these should be made available for Rochdale people first and foremost. Young, professional people who require accommodation that is near transport which takes them into Manchester for work. Please think about Rochdale and not add to the way the town is going, sadly.
By SM
Isn’t there a load of empty rooms at the apartments on the old vauxhall site?
By Anonymous
What the point building high rise flats, when the road infrastructure is going to a mess.
By Lee
This kind of reporting does nothing to support the future of the town. Regeneration requires investment, ambition, and people willing to believe in change. Highlighting only problems and negativity gives the impression that nothing good can ever happen. Constructive discussion is important, but constant pessimism helps nobody.
By Maya
Articles like this only fuel negativity instead of encouraging regeneration and investment. A major redevelopment bringing hundreds of new homes, public spaces, and opportunities should be looked at with a balanced view. Constantly focusing on doubt and criticism creates a negative image and discourages the very progress towns need. Communities don’t improve by talking every opportunity down.
By IO
I believe your issue is not with the article, but with the comments.
By Julia Hatmaker
This looks a lot like an absentee investor doing the minimum possible to get outline consent so they can then flip the dead shopping centre to someone with little or no knowledge of the local market.
Was it a creative choice to make the render look quite that basic?
By Anonymous
All for the science and uber community
By Anonymous
Well that will be more empty apartments the ones buit on John st still have not been filled. Regeneration is just about building homes. Rochdale had a lot of history and heritage why cant some celebrate this? And reinstat a new market that would encourage people to visit Rochdale?
Make it classy please don’t make it a ghetto.
By Anonymous
No more plays or houses on Yorkshire street. We need more up market shops to bring people in to spend money
By Anonymous
Excellent housing scheme I fully support that project
By Mr Mahmood Ul Hasan
This is the type of regeneration towns need. Turning an empty, unused site into homes, community spaces, and a place people can enjoy is a positive step forward. Credit to Muse Architects and the team behind this for bringing vision and ambition to Rochdale. Progress starts with people willing to invest and create change.
By IO
The shopping centre should be full of shops
Not houses in the middle of town
By Afzal Hussain
Why are they not using the wheatsheaf to attract a big name like Primark. If you go to Oldham or Manchester you always see people with Primark bags. It would bring people into town and enhance the Riverside shops. They are already building home on Drake street and there are already flats on John Street. There won’t be anything to go into Rochdale centre for shortly if this goes ahead.
By Chrissie
More roads first to accommodate the traffic that is struggling now. Never mind ‘bike lanes’
By Anonymous
I honestly don’t think this is the best idea. Many of the apartments on John Street near the new Hilton are still empty. What about the houses they are starting to build near Matalan also? I’m not certain they’ll be a massive demand for either of them.
Maybe build 1 block and then if the demand is there, build the 2nd?
It is a shame to knock down what was a good building though.
By Anonymous
What parking provisions are being made and how will the local roads, already very busy, cope at peak hours!
By Anonymous
Ridiculous just adding to already too much congestion on the roads in that area. Planners ought to be sacked for blocking John street etc.
By Ian Harding
If this was Stockport the comments here would be a lot more positive, more expectation this would support a vibrant town centre. Every major GM town is putting in dense housing next to its Metrolink, heavy rail, and transit hubs.
By Rich X
I can not think of anything worse than this plan. It would destroy what bit of town centre we have left. Give the town something the residents need like shops a market.
By Anonymous
Whilst wheatsheaf centre is now an eye sore just securing planning for homes and apartments so maximise developer revenues is also a major folly
We have to take account of access and parking to the area (agree with the points it’s not about bike lanes) , creation of more green space and parking areas, some development the highlights heritage of the area and links to the excellent work at the town hall, make links to trams and routes cost effective and accessible
By Anonymous
It needs to be a development of high quality. If not it will soon become an eyesore and the town centre already has enough of eyesores!
By Peter Fellman
I dont think people understand what this would mean for the future of the town! I dont understand how this is a bad thing? centre was closed of many years, this is not just about building flats, but about bringing a closed town-centre site back to life with homes, commercial space on ground, public realm reconnecting all surrounding streets with a massive landscaping and better connections through Rochdale. This could support shops, create activity and give the Wheatsheaf site a real future again. Better than leaving it empty.
By Ms. Adams
Rochdale has gotten worse over the years and building apartments in the middle of the town centre will not make it any better, more homes probably too expensive for people to rent. No wonder people prefer to go to Bury, Oldham and Manchester to shop. No one in their right mind would come to Rochdale
By Anonymous
I like the sound of this, it appears to be an ideal imagining of a current useless area.
By Marilyn Aldred
Why not move the shops into there from the exchange and have one big shopping centre knock the exchange down instead because that’s looking deserted.
By Ashand
Rochdale needs something more than houses all the time. Why not plan something for the kids, stop them from being on the consoles all the time. Make it for them like a bit of everything. Art and crafts, jungle Jim’s. photography etc etc. There are houses being built near Matalan, those apartments on Jonh Street they are not all filled, so why turn Wheatshift into more houses and apartments that won’t get filled?
By Valerie Bagley
The idea of turning an iconic Rochdale building into some ugly housing designs is pathetic. There’s other buildings in the Dale to knock down, but the wheatsheaf shouldn’t be one of them. It’s too iconic for Rochdale.
By brad
Rochdale town centre has improved vastly in the last 10 years and the regeneration taking place needs to carry on, it’s a slow process but will be worth it. Referring to someone saying in a comment earlier about Primark …this store does pull in the shoppers and would love one in Rochdale… my suggestion would be the old Beales store at the bottom of Yorkshire street with it’s 3 floors and an entrance in the exchange shopping centre… would be a game changer maybe..
By john.s