Rochdale’s Wheatsheaf to make way for 443 homes
Closed since the pandemic, the 168,000 sq ft shopping centre could be demolished under plans being worked up by its Dubai-based owner.
DHA Corporates is working with Muse Architects on proposals for the redevelopment of the site of Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre, located at the heart of Rochdale.
The scheme would see the defunct retail complex knocked down and replaced with three apartment buildings and a row of townhouses totalling 443 homes. The current working breakdown is approximately 134 one-bed apartments, 201 two-bed apartments, 86 three-bed apartments, and 22 townhouses.
The development would also feature, 10 commercial units to activate the ground floor, a community hub building, and a significant area of public realm at its heart, designed as a new local meeting place for local residents, the project team has said.
One of the main aims of the scheme is to reconnect Yorkshire Street to the north of the site with the amenities at Rochdale Riverside to the south.
Rochdale Riverside, a rival retail and leisure complex, opened in 2020 just before the pandemic. The Wheatsheaf’s former owner MCR Property announced in November of that year that the shopping centre would not reopen after lockdown.
DHA Corporates acquired the building in 2022 for around £3m and in 2025 had plans approved to convert part of the Wheatsheaf into a wedding venue with a banqueting hall. However, this scheme is no longer going ahead.
An event is planned to showcase the redevelopment proposals on Thursday 2 July, interested parties can register their attendance here.
An outline planning application is expected to be lodged before the end of the year.
Mo Muse, founder of Muse Architects, said: “The project is not simply a development site; it is an opportunity to reimagine a significant piece of Rochdale’s town-centre fabric.
“Our proposal seeks to create a place of connection, identity and everyday life where people can live, work, meet and grow within a walkable, mixed-use neighbourhood at the heart of the town.”
He added: “The ambition is to bring together new homes, active commercial spaces, generous amenity, improved public realm and stronger pedestrian connectivity, so the site can support different generations living side by side. Subject to detailed design, consultant input, planning review and client approval, we believe Wheatsheaf has the potential to become a meaningful civic place for Rochdale; not only a residential scheme, but a renewed urban quarter with community, movement and long-term value at its centre.”
A spokesperson for DHA Corporates said: “We see the Wheatsheaf development project as a major opportunity to support Rochdale’s continued regeneration. Our ambition is to bring forward a high-quality mixed-use development that provides new homes, supports local activity and contributes positively to the town.”
