'Revealing the Roch' project wins national award

John Percival, the council’s project lead for the reopening the river project and Mark Robinson, Asst Director for Planning and Development at the council

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The 'Revealing the Roch' town centre plan won the Excellence in Planning for the Natural Environment category in the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2016 held in London on Thursday night( 5 May). It was also nominated in the Excellence in Planning for Heritage category.

The project has restored the bridge by repairing damaged stonework and rebuilding the section that was removed when the culvert was built.

Roisin Willmott, RTPI Awards Advisor, said: “All the elements of this project, from uncovering a lost river and reducing flood risks, to enhancing biodiversity and creating an attractive public space in the town centre, have truly captured the public’s imagination. It is set to benefit the citizens of Rochdale for years to come, thanks to inclusive planning that got everyone on board. The project also has replicable lessons in flood risk management and urban design that could be applied to the re-engineering of other rivers.”

Greg Couzens, who campaigned long and hard for the project to go ahead when it was in doubt, said: "This is fabulous news for Rochdale."

The RTPI represents 23,000 planning professionals worldwide and promotes spatial planning, shapes policy and raises professional standards. The Awards for Planning Excellence have been run by the RTPI for nearly 40 years to recognise planning excellence.

This year’s headline sponsors were AECOM and Savills with other sponsors and supporters including Oyster Partnership, British Land, Quod, Planning Aid England, The Planner, Bilfinger GVA and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.