Nationally renowned architects Levitt Bernstein to help build a brighter future for College Bank and Lower Falinge

College Bank Way

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has commissioned Levitt Bernstein to collaborate with the local community and partners to develop proposals to make College Bank and Lower Falinge better places to live and work.

College Bank and Lower Falinge have endured sustained and unfair negative national news headlines over a number of years. RBH continues to work alongside the local community and partners to ensure that those who live in College Bank and Lower Falinge are fairly portrayed, and to improve the homes and environment. Both neighbourhoods need high levels of spending to ensure that they provide the quality of homes that residents deserve.

Over the next three months, RBH and Levitt Bernstein will look at all viable options for College Bank and Lower Falinge, and all those who live and work in and around the area will have the opportunity to get involved in the process to identify and assess what the best options may be.

This process will build on the existing RBH regeneration plans for Lower Falinge, which include 26 new homes completed in 2015 on the site of two former blocks of flats and a derelict former pub site. Planning permission has recently been granted to enable RBH to develop a further 19 new homes in the area together with a new kick pitch.

Gareth Swarbrick, RBH Chief Executive, said: “There is major investment and regeneration now underway in Rochdale town centre and investing in the homes is a key part of this regeneration. We want to provide better quality homes and a better quality of life for current and future residents of College Bank and Lower Falinge and every decision will be made in consultation with the local community and with that goal in mind.”

Andrew Johnson, secretary of the College Bank Tenants and Residents Association, and tenant member and vice chairman of the RBH Representative Body, commented: “I have been involved in appointing Levitt Bernstein to look at options over the next three months. Their brief is to work with residents and partners to consider the best future investment for College Bank and Lower Falinge. As part of this lots of detailed consultation will be starting soon and I would encourage all those living in the area to get involved and have their say.”

Barry McCullough, Director at Levitt Bernstein, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to look at the options for improving College Bank and Lower Falinge in collaboration with the local community. This is a truly exciting project and a real opportunity to improve the lives of the residents in central Rochdale.”