Spodden Valley group responds to Dexine development

After outline planning permission was granted on the Dexine Mill site on Spotland Road earlier this week, the Save Spodden Valley group has greeted the news with a guarded welcome. They believe it could be a 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity to regenerate the gateway to the Spodden Valley but are wary of possible contamination in the area and hope that Dexine will relocate to elsewhere in the borough.

If the plans, drawn up by Preston-based architects Frank Whittle Partnership, are given the full go ahead the Spotland Road mill buildings would be replaced with modern housing and 20,000 sq ft of office and business space.

The full development would consist of 114 apartments, 44 town houses with an additional 44 apartments and 1811 square metres of commercial space in the converted mill buildings.

"One important proviso we have is that any potential contamination be fully investigated and remediated to the highest standards," said a spokesman for the Spodden Valley group. "We look forward to viewing and commenting on the plans drawn by the Frank Whittle Partnership. A mixed-use scheme that maintains heritage features and provides the opportunity for green amenity such as a link with the Sustrans network may find approval with the local community.
 
The group hopes that Dexine will remain in Rochdale when they relocate ahead of the development of their current premises citing the loss of manufacturing jobs in the town when Federal Mogul in Spodden Valley and Whipp amp; Bourne in Castleton left Rochdale.

Save Spodden Valley believes that this planning application, alongside the proposals for the Alexander Drew Mill site on Mellor Street, will put the controversial plans for the TBA site in Spodden Valley in severe doubt.