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PLAN: Wilson Bowden's original vision

New £250m revamp bid

David Thame
2/12/2008

COUNCIL bosses are looking for a developer to take on a £250m plan to revamp Rochdale town centre - for the second time.

Rochdale council was forced to re-open the competition after a landmark court judgment earlier this year.

The move followed a summer of controversy as the winner of the first development competition, Wilson Bowden, fought efforts by losing bidder Sultan Properties.

Sultan, which owns the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre, had also hoped to develop the new scheme. But the selection process fell foul of European Union rules on spending public money on major contracts.

Developers are now being given the chance once again to find out about a major opportunity to redevelop Rochdale town centre with a new retail heart, along with offices, housing and leisure facilities.

Presentation

Rochdale council will hold an open day on Tuesday, December 16, in Rochdale town hall, to give interested developers the chance to hear a presentation on the opportunity and ask questions, ahead of a notice being placed in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) early next year.

The redevelopment site will include land owned by the council, such as the municipal offices and bus station, which are earmarked for demolition.

A site for a new transport interchange has already been cleared and £13m funding secured. A programme of commercial acquisitions is progressing to clear the way for a £60m council HQ by 2011, funding arrangements for which are also agreed.

Council chief executive Roger Ellis said: "We are looking for innovative solutions. There is significant public sector finance, carving the way for longer-term private investment, which we believe offers added security to interested partners during this challenging economic period."

The chosen developer would work with and be supported by a range of partners including the council, Rochdale Development Agency, English Partnerships, the North West Regional Development Agency and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.

The notice opening the bidding will be published in February or March next year, with a shortlist announced around May.

There will then be a public consultation and closed dialogue period, with a final decision expected early in 2010. Work could begin in 2011 or 2012.