Investing in the future as council leader hails £20m cash injection

Wednesday, 5 March 2025 08:20

By David Murphy

Heywood Civic will be transformed as part of the council's ambitious regeneration plans

The leader of Rochdale Borough Council has welcomed a £20m government funding boost for Heywood as part of the government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods initiative.

Councillor Neil Emmott said the cash injection would enhance the council’s ambitious regenerations plans for Middleton, Heywood, Rochdale and the Pennines.

Heywood is one of just 75 areas to get a share of the £1.5bn government package, delivered over the next decade, helping to boost growth, health and wellbeing, create jobs and transform local communities.

The money will be targeted across Heywood, complementing the council’s vision to transform the town centre with new homes, revamp the civic centre, support culture and the evening economy, enhance safety and create new green spaces.

Decisions on how the £20m will be spent will be taken by the local Neighbourhood Board, which brings together councillors, residents, businesses and community campaigners and is already working on an investment plan to be submitted to government later this year.

Councillor Emmott said: “Today’s welcome government announcement is about putting control in the hands of local people, who are best placed to decide how they want this money spent. Following on from the council’s radical budget proposals, this is another boost for our ambitious regeneration plans for township areas like Heywood and Middleton. The funding boost underlines both the council’s and government’s commitment to invest in our communities and unleash the enormous potential we have locally”.