The masterplan that will shape Rochdale’s future is a step closer to becoming a reality.
The borough’s Local Plan will mould how it will look and its priorities until 2039. Just under 11,000 new homes will be built and the borough’s stations will dramatically change.
After honing and tweaking a 175-page document, council bosses approved, which will now go out to public consultation. It is expected that formal adoption of the plan will come later in 2027.
The Local Plan originally set the minimum required for new housing developments to include 20 per cent affordable housing. However, due to this being deemed not financially viable the minimum threshold was moved back down to 15 pc.
This change to the strategy raised eyebrows amongst the cabinet meeting held in Rochdale Town Hall on July 28.
Coun Daniel Meredith, said: “This is not a reduced commitment to affordable housing by this council. Affordable housing through the planning system is only one part of the delivery of affordable housing.”
The council’s housing boss went on to explain they delivered 883 affordable homes in the last five years – which was well above the 15 pc minimum target set in the last local plan.
He went on to say that the local authority is working with Homes England to deliver more affordable housing projects in the borough – with many already ‘in the pipeline’, according to council officers.
Housing forms a substantial part of the plan, with the land carved out for new homes already mapped out by the Places for Everyone plan. The PfE plan is a giant housing strategy adopted by nine out of 10 Greater Manchester councils.
The plan would see around 175,000 homes built across the city region over the next two decades. PfE is expected to bring forward investment and major redevelopment in Rochdale and across the city-region.
The Rochdale borough is already anticipating a major boost in the coming years through the Atom Valley scheme. The vision to build 7,000 new homes, create 20,000 ‘high-quality’ jobs and carve out 17m sq ft of employment land has already taken hold.
The building has already started on the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) in Kingsway. This is the beginning of many more opportunities for investment in the region.
This Local Plan is focusing on Rochdale alone. The Rochdale Rail Corridor Strategy is at the beating heart of what the local authority really wants to achieve.
The concept would see the land around transport hubs along the Manchester to Leeds railway line reconfigured into places for people to live, work and play. These hubs would focus on the stations in Rochdale, Castleton, Mills Hill, Smithy Bridge, Littleborough and a new Slattocks station.
Combined with walking and cycling routes, park and rides, new public realms and community spaces, these hubs hope to attract more people into the area and in turn boost the local economy.
Overall, the strategic plan covered a huge array of topics that would influence how the borough would grow. These areas include climate and energy, economic growth and town centres, housing, natural environment, design and place-making, healthy communities and sustainable transport.
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