Sisk starts Rochdale’s lynchpin highways project 

The contractor has commenced work on a 2.2km link road designed to unlock sites for 1,000 homes and 1.4m sq ft of employment space in South Heywood. 

Last year, Rochdale appointed John Sisk & Son to construct the road, connecting Junction 19 of the M62 to Pilsworth Road to open up land for the £150m of developments projects. 

The link road forms a crucial part of the wider regeneration of Rochdale and is required to support the delivery of the major mixed-use scheme, which is being led by the council and its development partner Russell Homes, with support from the Rochdale Development Agency. 

As well as the homes and employment space, the council’s plans for South Heywood also feature a primary school. 

The £25m road link, due to complete in spring 2022, has attracted £22m of external funding, including £10m from the Government’s £900m Getting Building Fund.

Contributions from Highways England, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester have also been received.

Plans for the link road were approved as part of the 321-acre South Heywood masterplan in 2018.

Cllr Neil Emmott, cabinet member for quality of place at Rochdale Council, said: “The new link road will bring huge, long-term benefits for residents and businesses. It will reroute HGV traffic away from Heywood town centre, significantly reducing congestion in these residential areas.”