Reel Cinema signs at Rochdale
Rochdale Riverside, the new name for Genr8’s retail and leisure development in the town centre, has secured Reel as the operator of a six-screen cinema.
Reel will occupy 20,000 sq ft within the scheme.
The new Rochdale Riverside brand is linked to the proposed development’s location close to the River Roch.
The project is part of Rochdale Council’s £250m town centre regeneration programme. It follows the announcement late last year that British retail giants Marks & Spencer and Next had signed legal agreements to occupy prime 50,000 sq ft and 22,000 sq ft units in the new development.
When complete, Rochdale Riverside will be made up of around 25 retail and leisure units, the six-screen cinema and 350-space car park.
A detailed planning application is set to be submitted this summer and a public consultation will take place beforehand to give residents a chance to view the plans in detail.
The council’s Rochdale Development Agency is also progressing with the final stage of its demolition programme to clear the area, which covers the site of the old bus station and municipal offices, as well as Telegraph House.
The demolition of Telegraph House is due to start in the summer, once the building’s last remaining tenant has relocated to the post office building on The Esplanade, following a refit which is planned to start next month.
Rochdale Riverside is being delivered in a joint venture between Genr8 Developments, and Kajima Partnerships.
Chris Morgan Giles of Reel Cinemas said: “We’re delighted to be signing up to this exciting retail and leisure development, which will undoubtedly help reposition Rochdale, stop leakage and attract people to the town centre from a much wider catchment. We look forward to working closely with Genr8, the developers, over the forthcoming months whilst they go through the planning process and commence works on site.
“Our operations in this region have recently grown significantly and as we are looking to continue to expand our business for the foreseeable future, Rochdale is an ideal place to do this.”
Genr8’s agent for Rochdale Riverside is Cheetham & Mortimer.
Not to be confused with Rochdale Riverside (council offices) across the road #ohdear
By AJD1984