Genr8 forges ahead with £50m Rochdale Riverside phase two  

The developer, in partnership with Japanese investor Kajima, has submitted plans for 240 homes and a 147-bedroom hotel next to the first phase of the town centre regeneration scheme, an £80m retail and leisure complex. 

Genr8 Developments and Kajima are delivering the £50m project, which forms part of the wider £400m town centre revamp, in collaboration with Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Council.

The development includes two apartment blocks reaching nine storeys and comprising a mix of one- and two-bedroom properties available for private rent. The apartments would contribute towards the council’s target of delivering more than 10,500 new homes for the town over the next two decades.  

In addition, the second phase of Rochdale Riverside features a seven-storey, 55,000 sq ft hotel. 

The developers are also seeking permission for 43,000 sq ft of offices, although this part of the plan will only be delivered if an occupier can be secured prior to construction, according to the council.

The residential element is designed by architect Cartwright Pickard and the hotel is being designed by Liverpool-based KKA Architecture. AEW Architects has designed the office portion.

Contractor Wilmott Dixon, which built the first phase of Rochdale Riverside for Genr8 and Kajima, is on site carrying out remediation work ready for construction to begin next year, subject to planning approval.

The mixed-use scheme would be built on a brownfield site next to the Rochdale Riverside retail and leisure development, which opened in April. The 200,000 sq ft complex features retailers including M&S, River Island and H&M, as well as a Reel Cinema and Puttstars mini golf.

Mike Smith, partner at Genr8 Developments, said: “This is a significant step-forward in the delivery of the scheme which will support the council’s ambitions for housing within the town and also provide a step change in terms of hospitality provision with the delivery of the new hotel.”

Rochdale Council leader Allen Brett said: “Creating high quality new homes and redeveloping eyesore brownfield sites is a key focus for us as we continue with our ongoing regeneration programme. 

“The incredible financial challenges the pandemic has presented us has made this continued economic growth even more important.” 

Genr8 Management Service is the project manager for the scheme and RPC Planning is the planning consultant.