Rochdale Town Hall’s wins FOUR RIBA Awards, a Defining Moment for the Borough’s Regeneration

Posted by on 7 May 2026

Rochdale Town Hall’s once-in-a-generation restoration has achieved outstanding national and international recognition, securing a landmark series of awards that underline both the architectural excellence of the project and its transformative impact on the borough’s regeneration ambitions.       

At the RIBA North West Awards 2026 held in Manchester on 6th May, Rochdale Town Hall achieved four awards, including:

• RIBA North West Award 2026
• RIBA North West Project Architect of the Year 2026
• RIBA North West Client of the Year 2026
• RIBA North West Conservation Award 2026

This rare clean sweep places Rochdale Town Hall among the most celebrated heritage-led regeneration projects in the UK.

Beyond RIBA, the restoration has been recognised across the built environment, heritage, planning and project management sectors. Major additional awards include:

• RICS Awards 2025 – Best Heritage Project in the UK, beating national landmarks such as Big Ben and the V&A
• Civic Trust Awards 2026, including the Michael Middleton Special Award for Excellence in Conservation and a Civic Trust Conservation Award
• Association for Project Management (APM) Awards 2025 – Social Project of the Year, recognising the project’s community, skills and economic impact
• RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence 2025 – North West Commendation for Heritage and Culture
• European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Award 2026, placing Rochdale Town Hall among Europe’s most important conservation and adaptive reuse projects

Together, these accolades confirm the restoration as one of the UK and Europe’s leading examples of heritage-led regeneration, conservation excellence and inclusive placemaking.

The project is a cornerstone of Rochdale’s wider town centre regeneration, reconnecting a Grade I-listed civic landmark with everyday public life while unlocking economic, cultural and social value. The Town Hall now sits at the heart of a revitalised town centre, supporting cultural programming, tourism, business, skills development and civic pride.

The restoration was project managed by Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council, guiding the complex £20m programme from inception to completion, coordinating partners, funding bodies and stakeholders to deliver the project on time and on budget.

Mark Robinson, Director of Economy, Rochdale Borough Council, said:

“This exceptional level of recognition is a powerful endorsement of Rochdale’s ambition and belief in the long-term value of regeneration led by heritage, culture and quality. Managing the restoration of Rochdale Town Hall on behalf of the Council was a complex and demanding task, but one driven by a clear vision to return this extraordinary building to the people of Rochdale and use it as a catalyst for wider renewal. These awards show that Rochdale can deliver projects of national and international significance, and they reinforce the Town Hall’s role as a symbol of confidence, pride and opportunity for the borough.”

The success of Rochdale Town Hall demonstrates how strategic public-sector leadership, combined with expert conservation and community engagement, can drive meaningful regeneration setting a benchmark for towns and cities across the UK.