Abandoned shopping centre to be brought back to life as a banqueting hall

An abandoned shopping centre in the centre of Rochdale will become home to a new banqueting hall and events venue after a planning application was approved by Rochdale Council.

The fifth and sixth floors of the Wheatsheaf Centre, where the town’s library used to be, will be transformed into two event halls designed to host a variety of events. The proposal is intended to accommodate pre-wedding functions, wedding events, business conferences, and public gatherings.

The fifth floor venue will have a capacity of up to 280 people and the sixth floor venue will be able to accommodate up to 180 people.

An extension to the car park is also included in the approved plans. This will allow the creation of staircases with direct access to the venues.

The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre closed its doors with the rest of the country in March 2020 during the coronavirus lockdown, re-opened in June and then closed again in November 2020 due to restrictions. It was then revealed that the mall wouldn’t reopen and it has remained vacant ever since.
 

Read more: The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre will NOT reopen after current lockdownPublished: 20 November 2020

Prior to its decline, it had been a bustling complex with five floors of outlets, with 15 big name stores and independent retailers trading from the centre.

The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre opened in 1990, and was originally linked to the former bus station and ‘black box’ council offices where the Rochdale Riverside Shopping Complex now stands.

Demolition of the former bus station and council offices began in 2014 with the library also being relocated from the shopping centre to Number One Riverside.

Planning papers, submitted by DHA Corporates Ltd, read: “Many functions and events, including weddings, concerts, and dinners, are currently held outside the town in other cities. This proposal seeks to retain a larger share of such commercial activities within Rochdale, responding to the high local demand.

“Consequently, it will boost local employment not only directly within the facility but also throughout the event-related supply chains.

“The development is designed to accommodate a variety of uses and cultures, with the client exploring potential partnerships with local businesses, corporations, and the council for hosting their events. The site would be transformed from one prone to anti-social behaviour into a well-designed, high-quality venue that offers full-time employment and attracts a high-end clientele.”

The facility, off Baillie Street, is expected to employ the equivalent of 46 full-time and part-time staff members.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter