Businesses and agents briefed on development opportunities in Rochdale

Over fifty regional agents and local businesses made the most of a chance to learn more about development opportunities in Rochdale at Rochdale Development Agency’s Annual Review. The event was held on Wednesday 19 October at Zen Internet’s prestigious offices at Sandbrook Park and was sponsored by Centric Property Group, SEGRO and Zen Internet.

The theme of the event was ‘Rochdale - Space to Grow’ and outlined the relative success that Rochdale is enjoying in a very subdued commercial property market.

John Hudson, Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) commented: “Rochdale has a real competitive edge over other North West locations and this is demonstrated in the bricks-and-mortar investment that we are seeing around the borough.”

He cited the relative success Rochdale is experiencing compared to other areas. Over the past 18 months, four of the largest commercial property deals in the whole of the North West were in the Rochdale borough. Two Rochdale businesses were also successful in winning £4 million of Government investment as part of the Regional Growth Fund, two of only nine grants awarded in the North West.

Rochdale is also virtually unique in Greater Manchester in having new speculative industrial development underway at Centric’s Crown Business Park and at Seddon’s Axis Point.

Tim Heatley, Director of Centric Property Group and developer of Crown Business Park said: “Centric took the bold decision to speculatively build business premises in Rochdale. The combination of Rochdale’s excellent location and the support available from Rochdale Development Agency make the borough a really attractive place to invest.”

The success of Heywood Distribution Park and the use of its Simplified Planning Zone (SPZ) was outlined by Jane Leedham, Leasing Manager for SEGRO, who own the Distribution Park. “The Council and RDA assisted in making Heywood Distribution Park one of only four SPZs nationally, which has helped to attract interest from new occupiers despite the economic downturn.”

Roger Ellis, Chief Executive of Rochdale Council welcomed the investments being made and stressed the importance of working in partnership with the private sector. He presented the business case for the Council’s new offices, service centre and library, which will not only save the Council £1 million a year in running costs, but also act as a catalyst for the wider town centre regeneration, including a new retail development led by development partners Genr8 on the site to be vacated by the existing offices and bus station.