Public urged to have their say on conservation areas in Rochdale town centre

Proposals to change the boundaries of the Rochdale Town Centre Conservation Area are out for public consultation, as the council’s drive to further boost and expand the borough’s heritage continues.

The current conservation area in Rochdale town centre covers Drake Street, Rochdale Town Hall, the Broadfield Slopes, St Chad’s Church and the lower Yorkshire Street area.

Under the proposals, this would extend to cover the section of Broadfield Park lining Manchester Road and parts of the graveyard at St Chad’s Church. At the same time, the council is proposing to remove certain places from the Rochdale Town Centre Conservation Area which predominantly contain modern buildings.

The recommendations also include the formation of new conservation area management plans for the Rochdale Town Centre and Maclure Road Conservation Areas. These plans will ensure that these important heritage sites continue to be well looked after and protected into the future.

In the longer term, the council is also looking to create a new toolkit for developers looking to invest in the area which would outline a set of standards they would be expected to adhere to in order to ensure any changes are in keeping with its historic character. This would complement existing planning policies and help to enhance the historic environment of both the Rochdale Town Centre and Maclure Road Conservation Areas.

Councillor Peter Williams, assistant cabinet member for regeneration and housing at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Our fantastic heritage is a huge asset and, from the ongoing redevelopment of Rochdale Town Hall and Town Hall Square, through to the Heritage Action Zone and the re-opening of the River Roch, it’s taken centre stage in our regeneration projects.

“With so many improvements taking place all the time, it’s vital that all our plans keep pace with the changing face of the borough. The reworking and updating of our conservation management plans for Maclure Road and Rochdale town centre will ensure they remain a really useful tool for us as we continue to protect and enhance the historic fabric of these areas.”

The work has been funded through the Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project, which is being delivered by the Rochdale Development Agency on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council in partnership with Historic England. 

This HAZ programme has already resulted in significant enhancements to shop fronts on South Parade and Drake Street, the high quality conversions of historic buildings on Church Lane and the hugely successful Rochdale Uprising mural festival.

The Maclure Road consultation runs until Thursday 22 June and the Rochdale town centre consultation runs until Thursday 6 July.

Residents and business owners can access the consultations at: rochdale.gov.uk/consultations or attend a consultation event in person at one of the following locations:

Rochdale Town Centre Conservation Area

Number One Riverside (ground floor), Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU

Wednesday 31 May, 10am - 2pm

Thursday 1 June, 2pm – 6pm

Maclure Road Conservation Area

Fire Up Co-Working Space (above Fireground Museum), The Old Fire Station, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN

Wednesday 31 May, 3pm - 6pm

Hard copies of the consultation documents are also available to view in all Rochdale Borough Council libraries and customer service centres.