Proposals for Kingsway Business Park master plan

Metrolink at Kingsway Business Park

A new development plan for Kingsway Business Park which aims to help the park ‘retain its competitive edge’ has been backed by planners but will need further support before being given the go ahead.

The Kingsway Partnership, which includes Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Development Agency, Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd and the Homes and Communitities Agency proposed plans for a refreshed master plan earlier in the year.

The application is looking to renew the existing planning permission, which runs until 2019, as a result of market changes and down to the recent opening of the Metrolink stop at the park.

It is understood that the park also wants to ‘respond to growing competition’ from other similar sites in other regions to ‘retain its competitive edge.’

Outline planning permission was first granted in 1999. So far, 1.8 million sq ft of space has been developed by occupiers including JD Sports, Takeuchi Manufacturing and Asda with 60 residential homes also being developed on the site.

It is understood that the new plans reflect the original planning permission with the exception of space for a car showroom – something that has been described as being “commonly found within high quality business park sites” by planners.

The plans are due to be discussed by the Rochdale township planning sub committee on Tuesday (29 July) and by the Pennines township planning sub committee on Wednesday (30 July).