New six-storey apartment block to become 'gateway into town'

An old row of shops will be demolished to make way for a new town centre apartment block.

Opposite Rochdale Railway Station, the new part six-storey, part three storey building would contain 33 apartments. The curved building, named ‘Corner Plot’, would have four commercial units on the ground floor alongside a foyer for residents.

The development would act as ‘the gateway into the town’ and be incorporated into the town centre regeneration works planned for Station Square.

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The apartment block on the junction of Station Road and Maclure Road is one of the first developments associated with the vision to be approved, containing a mix of ‘high quality’ one-bed and two-bed flats across five floors, targeted at young professionals. The current row of single-storey units will have to be demolished to make way for the new building.

The developer, Rochdale Development Agency, believes ‘Corner Plot’ gives the advantage of the commuting connections to Manchester, whilst allowing people to live more affordably than in the city. No car parking spaces are allocated for the building but there would be storage for 38 bicycles.

More than 1,000 new homes, a public realm rejuvenation, new cycle and walking routes as well as new green spaces form the key aspects of the overarching vision for the area.

Planning papers read: “It is part of a wider regeneration strategy focused on the station, including the reimaging and pedestrianisation of the station square recently approved and to be implemented in 2024.

“This is part of the wider Rochdale Station Area SPD and its vision to deliver 1,500 new homes around Rochdale station to house 3,500 people; a new public square at the station; and promotion of living and working adjacent to stations to reduce carbon emissions though greater use of public transport, cycling and walking.

“Corner Plot is an important first step in the formation of a new built environment around the Station Square.”

The regeneration plan for Station Square will take longer to come into place after Rochdale Council missed out on £20m in ‘Levelling Up’ cash last year. The council is still determined to forge ahead with the vision though.