Willmott Dixon to start Rochdale Riverside phase two 

The consortium that delivered the 200,000 sq ft retail and leisure development in the town centre has appointed the contractor to carry out enabling works, paving the way for the 240-home second phase. 

Rochdale Development Agency is delivering the Riverside scheme on behalf of Rochdale Council, in partnership with developer Genr8 Developments and Japanese investor Kajima.

Phase two of the scheme, which also includes a hotel, will be built by main contractor Willmott Dixon. The firm is due on site “imminently” following the award of a £2.7m enabling works contract, Rochdale Council said.

The scheme, located next to the first phase, will comprise one- and two-bedroom apartments for rent, as part of the council’s plans to deliver more than 10,500 new homes for the town over the next two decades.  

The main construction phase would begin next spring subject to the approval of detailed plans to be submitted later this year, according to the council. 

The residential element is designed by architect Cartwright Pickard and the hotel is being designed by Liverpool-based KKA Architecture.

The second phase of Rochdale Riverside could also include offices, to be designed by AEW Architects, but they would only be built if a pre-let could be secured, the council added.

Manchester-based property management company Urbanbubble has been appointed as a consultant to support the wider design and development of Rochdale Riverside phase two.

Rochdale Riverside Complete 1

The leisure and retail part of the scheme completed earlier this year

Last November, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority contributed £4m towards the regeneration scheme.

Willmott Dixon completed work on phase one, which saw retailers Next and H&M, as well as leisure operators Reel Cinema and the Puttstars, take up residence within the development, which was designed by architect TP Bennett.

Council leader Allen Brett said: “The delivery of high-quality homes to serve our growing population and attract new residents is a vital part of our strategy to transform the borough.

“[Rochdale Riverside] will attract people who want to live in a thriving town centre and bring an important brownfield site back into use and transform this key part of the town centre.”

Mike Smith, partner at Genr8 Developments, added: “We are pleased to be supporting the council’s housing drive with phase two, continuing the development of this regeneration project and fulfilling the ambition of the scheme and the town.”

Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “Rochdale Riverside phase two will play an important role in further regenerating Rochdale, following the success of the first phase.  

“This development will be another blueprint for town centre regeneration across the UK attracting further inward investment into this community.”

Elsewhere in Rochdale, the council is working with developer Capital & Centric to deliver around 200 new homes at the former Central Retail Park near the train station.

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Where are these homes to be built.

By Jean Chisnall

My god those apartment blocks look dull. At least build something aspirational Rochdale, who’s going to want to live in those? The first phase of the shopping centre looks great, but don’t throw it away now.

By Derek

It’s waste of money. How wants to go Rochdale Town centre for shopping. Most of the people now buying online anyway.

By Sajid

It is to be hoped that at some point we develop an improved mental attitude in this town if it is ever to progress , When a recovery appears and it will , Companies are going to be looking for towns to open and create jobs and any Director or business owner won’t look at this town twice. Unless the social attitude in this town changes it will stay left behind like it has for the last thirty years. Here is a chance to change that for the next generation .

By Rob

We have three shopping centres and not one is at full capacity, they need to sort this out first!

By Marc Blakey

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