Five-star hotel in Rochdale could become a rehab centre for people recovering from addiction

Proposals to change the use of the Silver Award winning Moss Lodge Hotel, in Kingsway, have been lodged with Rochdale Council.

The new rehab facility would be run by Acorn Recovery Projects, which describes itself as an ‘innovative charity’ that enables people ‘to break free from drugs, alcohol and other addictions’.

The Victorian-era building has 14 bedrooms and would not be altered internally or externally. It would continue to be served by a 17-space car park.

Planning documents say the organisation has been ‘delivering high quality psychosocial treatment for 22 years’ – including two other projects in the north west rated as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission watchdog.

Acorn Recovery Projects has submitted a statement about the work done by its ‘treatment wellbeing centres’ as part of the planning application.

It reads: “The service will have a clear and structured regime and all occupants will be operating to a signed treatment contract around behaviour whilst in treatment.

“The funding for occupants is via local authorities and private paying clients, so good partnerships and relationships are vital to the delivery of our services.”

The charity adds that it has a ‘host of volunteers’ who will help with the smooth running of the service, and welcomes involvement from the local community.

The statement continues: “The service does not operate a service to anyone in ‘active’ addiction and therefore has a cohort of people accessing the service who are there to receive support through their own choice.

“Our current two treatment centres have no previous history of any neighbouring issues and certainly no issues around any anti-social behaviour.”

A planning statement accompanying the application claims the centre would make a ‘positive contribution to the provision of much needed facilities within one of Rochdale’s most deprived areas’.

It adds: “The proposal will result in the creation of a high-quality facility for residents and comprises a compatible use in keeping with the surrounding context, while also reusing an existing site, with no changes made internally or externally.”

While it is said to be well-served by public transport, the site is also close to the A664 and M62, providing ‘ease of access’ to potential service users.

In conclusion the statement claims the development ‘represents a positive and beneficial change of use on the site, which will help to provide a much needed and necessary service to the local area, while also preserving the use of the 19th Century building’.

Acorn Recovery Projects also runs substance misuse treatment centres at Bank Parade, in Burnley and Rosemary Court, in Stockport. Both are rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission.

A decision on whether to approve the change of use will be made by Rochdale Council.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter