Rochdale Borough Council has published its annual report for 2025/26, highlighting progress on major regeneration projects, environmental improvements and key health and community outcomes.
The report sets out achievements across the council's priorities of people, place, planet and performance.
The annual report outlines progress made despite continuing financial pressures and increasing demand on local government services.
Among the major developments highlighted are advances on the Atom Valley programme, the start of work on the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre at Kingsway Business Park, ongoing town centre regeneration schemes, the launch of a new borough partnership and the creation of the Middleton Mayoral Development Corporation.
The report also points to Rochdale's year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture as a significant achievement, with cultural events attracting thousands of visitors from across the region.
According to the council, several key indicators improved during the year. Fuel poverty fell from 15.8 per cent to 12.8 per cent, while the proportion of cancers diagnosed at an early stage increased from 56 per cent to 57 per cent.
Learning disability health checks rose from 1,170 to 1,210 and the overall crime rate fell from 109.5 to 96.3 offences per 1,000 residents.
Environmental measures also showed improvement. Recycling rates increased to 48.6 per cent and land cleanliness reached 97.7 per cent. The council reported taking more formal enforcement action against environmental offences and said it had refreshed its climate change and sustainability strategy while achieving bronze accreditation from the Carbon Literacy Project.
The report highlights the impact of the borough's cultural programme, which included more than 15,000 attendees at Feel Good Family Picnic events, over 18,000 visitors during the opening week of the Common Walls international mural festival and 5,000 people attending the Merhaba Festival.
The council acknowledged ongoing challenges, including increasing demand in adult social care, children's services, housing and special educational needs and disabilities services, alongside wider financial pressures facing the sector.
Council leader Neil Emmott said: "This report shows that, despite a challenging year for local government, we have continued to deliver for our residents, businesses and communities.
"We have made real progress on some of the borough's biggest ambitions, from Atom Valley and town centre regeneration, culture, children's services and support for people who need it most.
"We know there are still significant challenges, particularly around inequalities, rising demand and financial pressures. But we remain ambitious for the borough and committed to working with partners and communities to reduce inequalities and make Rochdale a better place for everyone."
The report will be considered as part of the council's ongoing work to deliver the borough plan and council plan.
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