Rochdale Station Gateway, Rochdale

Station Gateway will offer a new entry point into Rochdale for visitors and residents, providing a fitting gateway into the heritage, retail and lesuire attractions of Rochdale Town Centre. The development area has the potential to: - Create new homes to support wider jobs created as part of Atom Valley - Develop walkable, mixed use neighbourhoods around existing public transport hubs - Prioritise active travel, such as walking and cycling to encourage healthier lifestyles - Expand local employment and leisure opportunities

Lead Sponsor

Rochdale Development Agency, Rochdale Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Transport for Greater Manchester, Network Rail, Northern Trains and National Trust

Asset Class

Commercial, Mixed‑use, Residential

Sector Focus

Public Realm

Investment Ask

There are a mix of investment opportunities across the portfolio with sites fully remediated and planning permission granted with also development sites assembled but in the early stages of design development.

The Council is keen to work with private sector partners to support the next phase of delivery, taking advantage of the momentum that is now building in the borough with Atom Valley and the wider local regeneration.

Planning Status

Supplementary Planning Document has been approved by the Council.
– Planning permission has also been granted for the Station Square (C16 public realm scheme, fully funded), Corner Plot (33 units gateway scheme) and Station Gardens (224 units, mix of apartments and houses).
– Other schemes which are in the early stages of scheme development
– Land is being assembled to deliver a further 550 units to the south of the rail station.

Key Metrics

The mixed-use development will maximise the potential of existing transport links and deliver:
– 1,500 new homes,
– 43,000 sq ft of new retail and commercial space
– 26,000 sq ft offices or managed workspace
– Enhanced public realm
– £11m cycle corridor connecting Castleton to Rochdale.

Strategic Rationale

The Rochdale Rail Corridor Strategy capitalises on the borough’s strategic location and five existing railway stations; Rochdale, Castleton, Mills Hill, Smithy Bridge and Littleborough, with a potential sixth at Slattocks, to drive sustainable and inclusive development.

As part of the Calder Valley Corridor, these transport hubs connect Rochdale to Manchester, Leeds, and the surrounding countryside, with 2.8 million rail journeys recorded in 2023.

Rochdale Station Masterplan involves:
– an area of around 800m diameter from the station
– significant opportunity for varied town centre living
– opportunity for mixed-use development immediately around the station
– creation of a new Transport Oriented Community benefitting from proximity to rail services to Leeds and Manchester.

Development Timeline

Work began in 2024 and is due for completion in 2032

For More Information

Contact Mark Robinson, Director of Place at Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (mark.robinson@rochdale.gov.uk) or Steph Everett, Head of Regeneration and Development and Interim Co-Managing Director at Rochdale Development Agency (s.everett@investinrochdale.co.uk)

Or for more information visit – https://www.investinrochdale.co.uk/regeneration/projects/rochdale-rail-corridor