Plans for Rochdale railway station and the surrounding area to go out to consultation

Proposals which could totally transform the area around Rochdale railway station are set to go out to public consultation this month, as the council progesses its rail strategy plans.

The proposals include the removal of traffic immediately in front of the station to make way for a brand new ‘Station Square’, the creation of a 500 space park and ride facility and bus interchange on Miall Street, behind the station, and the provision of new housing and employment space.

The council is also looking to improve the station's entrance and facilities and provide more space for pick up and drop off immediately around it.

It is hoped the changes will better connect the station to shops and businesses in the wider Milkstone and Deeplish area, as well as the town centre, with improvements to the pedestrian crossings on Drake Street and enhancements of the Rochdale Canal towpath.
 

Read more: Major transformation planned for Rochdale railway station sitePublished: 31 October 2019

The document which outlines many of these proposals (The Supplementary Planning Document) is set to go to Rochdale South Township this week ahead of a public consultation which will be launched later this month.

Feedback will then be considered, before the document is taken to the planning committee for final approval before being adopted as the planning blueprint for the area.

The proposals form part of wider plans to regenerate the areas around the borough’s five railways stations, as part of the new rail strategy.

The plans involve the creation of up to 7,000 new homes and over 100,000 square metres of employment space along the rail corridor to create up to 11,000 new jobs.
 

Read more: Council announces plans for thousands of new homes as part of rail regenerationPublished: 22 April 2020

 

 

The council is also working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on plans for a sixth station to be created at Slattocks, close to Stakehill Distribution Park, as well as the extension of the Metrolink into Heywood and Middleton.
 

Read more: Middleton could be on track for new train stationPublished: 22 February 2019

 

Read more: Pathfinder 'tram-train' route proposed between Heywood and RochdalePublished: 06 November 2019

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for a thriving economy at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The area around Rochdale station is at the heart of a thriving community and also serves as a vital gateway into our borough for both residents, commuters and visitors, so its redevelopment is an important part of the next phase of regeneration for the borough.

“With six trains an hour into Manchester and a Metrolink stop from which people can access the wider city region, as well as key local employment sites like Kingsway, there’s huge potential for this area to get even better.

“The creation of the supplementary planning document (SPD) is another important milestone, as it will help us attract funding and investment to drive these regeneration plans forward and it will be taken into consideration when planning applications are submitted for this area in the future.

“With the multi million pound restoration of the Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum well underway and a planning application for over 200 brand new homes, delivered in partnership with Capital and Centric, set to be submitted to the council this spring, this is yet another step forward for the regeneration of this area.”

The SPD can be accessed in the Rochdale South Township committee papers at: rochdale.gov.uk/democracy

You can read the full rail strategy here: investinrochdale.co.uk/about/reports