Rochdale outlines vision for Littleborough station
Delivering homes, creating a bus interchange, and prioritising pedestrians are among the council’s priorities for the village’s station-led regeneration.
Littleborough is one of five stations whose surrounding land was earmarked for development in a 15-year vision published by the council last year.
Rochdale Council wants to deliver 7,000 new homes and 2.6m sq ft of employment space along the Calder Valley rail corridor over the next two decades.
A draft strategic framework for Castleton station was launched in the summer and now the council is seeking public feedback on proposals for the land around Littleborough station.
Rochdale, Smithy Bridge, and Mills Hill stations are the others in line for redevelopment.
The Littleborough proposals include delivering high density residential developments close to the station, repurposing disused buildings and railway arches, and improving the gateway to the village for visitors and commuters by giving pedestrians priority.
Increased car parking also features in the plans in a bid to take cars off streets.
A new village heart could be established with priority given to pedestrians. Credit: via consultation documents
The council also wants to define a “village heart” centred around the junction of Church Street and Hare Hill Road.
By revamping the area around Littleborough station, Rochdale Council hopes to attract a “young professional demographic”, it said.
The draft supplementary planning document for the village states: “The regeneration and improvement of Littleborough Railway Station and the surrounding land and buildings represents a strategic priority for the council to attract new residents and businesses to the area, contribute to an improved housing offer, create new public realm and open space, repurpose vacant land and buildings, and to capitalise and support further development and improvements to the rail network.”
The purpose of the SPD is to provide a land use strategy for the Littleborough Station area to guide future development.
The consultation on the SPD is open and will run until 21 November.
Rochdale Council is working with GM Stations Alliance – a newly established partnership between the council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Network Rail, LCR Property and Transport for Greater Manchester – as well as consultancies Broadway Malyan, GL Hearn and WSP.
High density resi is planned close to the station. Credit: via planning documents
Rochdale getting its act together!
By Rich X
Nice little town surrounded by amazing countryside.
By Elephant
This is the first illustration I have seen of the changes that might be happening. The arches look very attractive but anybody sat outside will be choked with exhaust fumes unless the traffic from Hollingworth Road is being re-routed?
The high density housing near the station should be built in keeping with the rest of the village centre i.e.in stone to preserve the look of the ‘public realm’.
By Tracy Furnell