Rochdale plots Drake Street makeover

The council has lodged plans to repair and restore the facades of 12 run-down properties on South Parade and Drake Street, an area between the town’s train station and the newly developed £80m Riverside retail and leisure complex. 

Traditional shopfronts will be reinstated and windows and roofs repaired under the plans designed by architect Purcell, which could eventually see the properties converted into homes. 

The project is part of the Rochdale Heritage Action Zone, which seeks to redevelop and restore key buildings in and around Drake Street, a historic retail area in need of regeneration.  

The Drake Street scheme will be funded through the Historic England Partnership Scheme in Conservation Areas programme, the council’s capital programme and contributions from property owners. 

Drake Street Rochdale

Drake Street is between Rochdale train station and the Riverside shopping centre

Other projects included within the heritage zone include the redevelopment of the Greater Manchester Fire Station Museum, the restoration of the Town Hall and proposals to convert the town’s Central Retail Park into housing. 

As well as the Riverside project, developed by the council, developer Genr8 Developments and Japanese investor Kajima, Rochdale announced plans to redevelop land around its five railway stations to create 7,000 homes, 2.5m sq ft of commercial space and an £11m cycle corridor to increase connectivity and boost the local economy. 

A statement from Rochdale Council said: “Heritage is an important part of what makes Rochdale a special place, so this is one of the focuses of our regeneration strategy.  

“It’s also part of borough’s overall growth strategy, which incorporates our plans for redevelopment around the railway stations, but also focuses on the reinvigoration of our town centres and other key sites around the borough.” 

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