Key developments coming to Rochdale in 2026

‘Build, baby, build’ is the mantra Rochdale is destined to follow in 2026, with bricks and mortar set to be in hot demand due to the sheer scale of development. Housebuilding is set to dominate the calendar across all Rochdalian towns, with a plethora of residential developments getting the go ahead in 2025.

‘Build, baby, build’ is the mantra Rochdale is destined to follow in 2026, with bricks and mortar set to be in hot demand due to the sheer scale of development. Housebuilding is set to dominate the calendar across all Rochdalian towns, with a plethora of residential developments getting the go ahead in 2025.

Housing minister Steve Reed coined the phrase ‘build baby build’ with his government intending to construct 1.5m homes over five years. With over 20,000 people on the housing waiting list in Rochdale, the chasm of the housing crisis runs deep.

Rochdale town centre, Castleton and Littleborough are the locations set to see the most construction in the coming months.

There is a growing sense of optimism with projects such as Station Gardens, near the train station, and the Atom Valley project finally seeing lift off recently. The new Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) is due to be the kickstarter of the Atom Valley scheme, with thousands of new jobs, homes, and employment space all due to be created around the M60 and M62 motorways.

Although housing is a top priority, there are ambitious plans in the area to boost the culture sector too, given Rochdale’s accolade as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025/26.

Here is a closer look at the key projects that are expecting to progress in 2026:

Station Gardens

Vacant land near Rochdale town centre earmarked for housing will soon be transformed beyond recognition as part of the Station Gardens development.

Work to create 81 new homes on the brownfield site, once occupied by the Rochdale Central Retail park, has started following the appointment of contractor, Willmott Dixon. The project will transform the land off Drake Street, which is on the doorstep of Rochdale railway station.

The project, approved years ago, was unlocked following a successful bid for £15m from the government’s Community Regeneration Partnerships Fund. The transformation has been on the cards for years, but the local authority has struggled to get the investment until earlier this year.

The properties will be the first net zero homes delivered as part of a housing scheme supported by the council, with completion expected in early 2028.

This scheme forms part of the wider regeneration of the area around Rochdale railway station, which involves the creation of a new public square in front of the station and 33 new apartments on a brownfield site on the corner of Maclure Road and Station Road, where construction is set to start in early 2026.

Littleborough expects to see hundreds of new homes

Hundreds of homes will be built on former green belt land in the heart of Littleborough.

The Rochdalian town had long been expecting these plans to come to fruition, but in November Bloor Homes were granted permission to build 309 homes on the rural plot of land off Hollingworth Road. The housing development has been massively controversial locally due to it being former green space, evidenced by over 1,000 objection letters being sent into Rochdale council.

The site next to Hollingworth Lake, a tourist hotspot, was taken out of green belt allocation following the approval of the Places for Everyone (PfE) plan last year. PfE will see thousands of new homes built across Greater Manchester.

Traffic congestion concerns were the main gripe for locals, who have often bemoaned the severe road blockages around peak times in the town. With a plan of 199 homes for Smithy Bridge soon to go before the planning committee in the early part of 2026 – more can be expected by residents.

Castleton’s two huge housing projects expect to move forward

The 445-home development in Castleton was finally given the green light earlier in 2025, so building work can be expected in due course.

Developers, GLP Trows LLP and BDW Trading Ltd, have vowed to build ‘high quality family housing’ off Cowm Top Lane. The site, known as ‘Trows Farm’, lies to the south of Cowm Top Business Park, close to the M62.

The housing estate would also include a linear park, open green space and playgrounds.

Additionally for Castleton, proposals tabled by Kellen Homes’ will see 191 ‘high quality’ homes built on the 27-acre site off Heywood Road – just 650m from Castleton station.

Just like the Cowm Top Lane site, the land once occupied by Baggs Yard Railing Sidings is one allocation of the Places for Everyone plan.

As per the PfE agreement, if this development was approved by the planning committee on June 20, the scheme would unlock the land to the east to facilitate the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) extension.

Kickstart of massive Atom Valley project

The major Atom Valley project will bring 20,000 jobs, employment space and new homes over a ‘decade of growth’. After years of waiting, work has finally started on the first piece of the puzzle.

Spades were officially put in the ground for the new Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) at a ceremony led by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham on November 12. The research hub, just off the M62, is expected to become a catalyst for growth in advanced manufacturing, machinery, materials, and scientific research.

Designed as part of a wider innovation ecosystem, the centre will play a key role in establishing Atom Valley as a world-class hub for advanced materials and manufacturing.

Mr Burnham pointed to the tram stop already in place at the site, hoping new workers here would mainly commute via public transport. But the Labour politician admitted rail and road congestion needed to be sorted locally to support the future of the Atom Valley scheme.

Development bosses at Rochdale council say they are looking into investment opportunities in the land around the SMMC – both employment and residential.

The SMMC may be the first physical representation of the Atom Valley project, but more is soon expected to follow. Earlier in 2025 plans for a huge, 6.5million sq ft employment site next to the M60, M62 and M66 motorways were tabled.

The land on the border of Rochdale and Bury has been earmarked for the industrial space, suitable for a wide range of businesses in the advanced manufacturing and industrial and logistics sectors.

The application also includes proposals for retail and leisure space, a hotel and green open spaces – all connected by a network of travel routes. Once built, the site would be capable of supporting up to 10,000 jobs and contribute around £630m to the regional economy annually.

Transformation of Heywood set to start

The town of Heywood has seen years of underinvestment, which is why it received £20m Pride in Place funding from the government, previously known as the Long Term Plan for Neighbourhoods.

With the Peine Square complete, the next steps will see where the money, to be released over a 10-year period, will be spent. The revamped square has seen the introduction of performance spaces, planters and new seating all part of the £900,000 scheme.

The Pride in Place plan was submitted to the government by the Heywood Town Board. Proposals include creating more activities and opportunities for young people; further enhancements to the town centre, including possible shop front improvement schemes; and creating more work and training opportunities.

A decision from the government on the board’s proposal is expected in March 2026. The money is guaranteed, so if initial plans are not approved, the government will work with the board to make any changes needed.

If approved, work is expected to get started quickly.