Middleton’s Parkfield House in line for overhaul
Muller Property Group wants to knock down the 1960s office building and construct an 80-bed care home and 20 townhouses.
The developer has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of the Manchester Old Road site, which can be viewed by searching for reference number 23/00335/FUL on Rochdale Council’s planning portal.
The scheme proposes first demolishing the existing brutalist building that occupies the site. Constructed in 1965, the Parkfield House was once used as Middleton Town Hall and was most recently leased by Chubb.
However, it has been vacant since 2020 and has been the subject of vandalism.
In its place, Muller plans to build a three-storey care home and, on an adjoining plot, a clutch of two- and four-bedroom townhouses.
Muller’s scheme aims to address Rochdale’s shortfall in accommodation that is specific for elderly people.
A planning statement submitted with the planning application states that the number of people over the age of 85 in the borough is due to increase “by a staggering 45%” between 2023 and 2035.
Archiscape is advising Muller on its proposals.
Muller acquired the site earlier this year. A report by BC Real Estate states that the property had previously been under offer to Seddon Construction at the back end of 2022. Seddon had been planning to develop the site subject to planning for an assisted living or care home scheme.
However, the deal fell through.
How are the elderly expected to cope with the stairs in a town house?
By Tony Heyes
@Tony Heyes
My understanding of the article is that it’s the care home which is for the elderly with the townhouses being for a wider demographic, especially that some of these have a large number of bedrooms.
My only gripe at this development is that it could be better design-wise.
By SW
What about the kids playing field and park? There is a care home next to the park?
Middleton it like concrete city as it is, nothing for kids taking the last of what’s there. Well done blame kids for smashing bus stops etc as that would be only thing left for them to do.
By Ged
Why build another care home where there is already one just yards away, and why would older people want to live right next to a skate/scooter park where children play.
By Ellen Bleakley
Ellen – as per the article the population is getting older and not everyone hates the sight of children.
By CG
Objecting to the construction of a care home because there is a kids playing field next door has got to be one of the funniest and strangest comments I’ve seen all week. Thanks for the laughs GED & Ellen. Got to love the Nimbys.
By Adam
By 2035/2040 councils will be planning the closure of schools and conversions into care homes and hospitals, such is the rate of demographic change that is coming (15-20% reduction in births and 40-50% increase in pensioners). It’s slated to be even more skewed for European countries such as Germany, France, Italy etc due to life expectancy levels. It’ll be Nations of kids spending their time looking after nations of Dementia sufferers unless we develop some treatments..
By Anon
How about some bungalows for the increasing elderly population. This could free up some family homes which are currently frequented by single elders or couples.
By Jean
Hi ya, Jean. Yes, more housing for the elderly. But private firms build to make private profit. Community or moral needs must be served by other means. I’m on your side.
By James Yates