Double Award Win Puts Rochdale Town Hall in the National Spotlight

Posted by on 1 Apr 2026

Rochdale is firmly in the national spotlight following a landmark moment for one of its most iconic heritage assets.                                                                             

The restoration of Rochdale Town Hall has been recognised with two prestigious accolades, underlining both the quality of the project and the borough’s growing reputation for delivering exceptional regeneration.

At the Civic Trust Awards ceremony, the Town Hall project received the highly coveted Michael Middleton Special Award for Excellence in Conservation, alongside a Civic Trust Conservation Award. These honours place Rochdale among the very best in the UK and international built environment sector, reflecting the ambition and care invested in restoring this Grade I listed landmark.

The success of the project is a testament to the leadership of an exceptionally talented team, led by Heritage Director Emma Birkett and Heritage Project Manager Emma Robinson, whose expertise and commitment have been instrumental in delivering such a high-quality outcome.

The Civic Trust Awards, now in their 67th year, attract entries from across the globe, with more than 300 submissions this year spanning countries including the USA, Canada, India and South Korea. Projects are assessed through a rigorous multi-stage judging process, recognising not only design excellence but also community impact, sustainability and long-term value. Against this highly competitive international field, Rochdale Town Hall stood out as a leading example of how heritage can be sensitively reimagined for modern civic life.

Judges praised the scheme as an exemplar of conservation-led regeneration, highlighting how the project balances meticulous restoration with thoughtful adaptation. The transformation secures the future of one of Rochdale’s most important historic buildings while enhancing its role as a vibrant, accessible space at the heart of the community.

Further recognition is already on the horizon. The project has been shortlisted for several major awards, including the Europa Nostra Awards, Royal Institute of British Architects North West Awards, and the Pineapple Awards, with results due to be announced later this year.

Together, these achievements firmly position the Rochdale Town Hall restoration as one of the standout projects of 2025. More importantly, they reinforce Rochdale’s wider regeneration ambitions, demonstrating how investment in heritage, culture and place can drive civic pride, attract visitors and support long-term economic growth across the borough.