Consultation launched for 'Neighbourhood Rochdale' development on Rochdale brownfield site

Local residents are being asked what they think about plans to transform the former Central Retail Park site from a brownfield area into a thriving new town centre community.

Developer Capital&Centric has revealed new images of its 'Neighbourhood Rochdale' scheme just off Drake Street as it launches a public consultation on plans to create over 200 homes for rent with a mix of one to five bed houses and apartments.

The brownfield site will be the first in the UK to deliver Capital&Centric’s new housing concept ‘Neighbourhood’. Designed to breathe life back into town centres it will feature design-led homes with beautiful architecture that are a challenge to 'outdated and uninspiring' housing. 

With modern, open plan layouts that maximise space, the homes will also be super sustainable and energy efficient with smart energy-saving tech and electric vehicle charging.

Each Neighbourhood will be a vibrant town centre community with an eco-system of amenities normally only found in city centres. In Rochdale, Capital&Centric is looking at including a food hall, general store, café-bar and flexible communal space.

Neighbourhood will also include plenty of outdoor spaces for residents and the wider community to enjoy. The Rochdale plans include a public linear park, with circuit training equipment, self-timed sprint track, kids’ play area, an outdoor pavilion for events and BBQ areas.

 

 

Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital&Centric said: “Neighbourhood Rochdale goes beyond just building new homes, it’s about rebooting the town centre and creating a proper community where you can get to know your neighbours and make new friends. That’s why we’ve included tons of shared spaces, which could be used for everything from yoga classes to kids’ parties or even a cinema night, and meeting pods for people working from home.”

“And there’s also the food hall and outdoor events pavilion to bring in people from the wider community. As you’d expect from us, it’s going to be very green, with beautiful terraces for all the houses and lots of landscaped spaces and lush lawns. We’ve got loads of ideas but want to know what local people think so give us a shout.”

Located just a short walk from both the Metrolink and train station, the site near Drake Street has been vacant for nearly a decade. The plans are part of the £400 million regeneration of Rochdale town centre and the council’s rail strategy, which will level up the town centre with 7,000 homes around the borough’s five railway stations.

Capital&Centric are working with the council and Rochdale Development Agency on the scheme, which will be built by leading construction company, Willmott Dixon, who recently completed the £80 million leisure and retail development at Rochdale Riverside.

Councillor John Blundell, Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications at Rochdale Borough Council: “Neighbourhood Rochdale is part of the wider £400 million regeneration of Rochdale town centre and also forms part of our rail strategy, which will see us transform major brownfield sites around our five railway stations.

“I’d urge locals to get involved in this consultation, so they can help to shape what I’m sure will be a thriving new town centre community.”

Rochdalians are being asked to have their say on the plans. The consultation closes on Friday 4 June 2021 and there are lots of ways that people can join the conversation:

• A newsletter has been sent to over 5,000 households and businesses in the area with a tear off freepost questionnaire
• Complete the questionnaire online at www.rochdaleneighbourhood.com
• Join a live online Q&A with the team on 6pm Wednesday 26 May 2021. Sign up via the website
• Email info@rochdaleneighbourhood.com
• Ask any questions by calling 0800 689 1095
• Write to Freepost HAVE YOUR SAY
• Follow on social @CapitalCentric

Feedback will be used to help shape the plans and it is expected that a planning application will be submitted to Rochdale Borough Council in the summer.