Rochdale Council is to receive £9.6 million in Government funding to support the development of more than 470 homes across the borough. The multi-million pound cash injection which is coming from the Governments Brownfield Housing Fund will be split across fourteen development sites in Heywood, Middleton, Castleton and Rochdale.
Ten of the sites are to be developed by Rochdale Council with a further two being undertaken by private developers with funding delivered over a two year period as schemes come to development.
Cllr. Peter Winkler, Shadow Protfolio Holder for Finance and Rochdale Conservative’s Deputy Group Leader said: “I am delighted to see this significant level of funding coming to Rochdale Borough from Government which reinforces the work that we have been doing locally, standing alongside residents to champion a ‘Brownfield First’ approach to development in the borough.”
“This Government funding shows a real commitment to delivering affordable, brownfield homes and is a massive and welcome cash injection to lift these sites out of dilapidation. I am looking forward to seeing these sites regenerated and how their development lifts the surrounding areas too.”
“Most importantly, the use of these brownfield site reduces the justification to seek development on Greenfield and Greenbelt sites which we are extremely keen to protect. Such sites have been under threat from successive Labour plans including the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and currently Places for Everyone, so I am delighted that with this Government funding we will be focussing on ‘Brownfield First’ whilst delivering local homes for local people.”
Development funding will be split across the borough as follows:
Heywood
- 12 homes at Pilsworth Road, Heywood, to be developed by Rochdale Council: £360,000
- 8 homes at Hornby Street, Heywood, to be developed by Rochdale Council: £240,000
Middleton
- 12 homes at Brassey Street, Middleton, to be developed by Rochdale Council: £360,000
- 17 homes at Lodge Mill, Middleton, to be developed by Rochdale Council: £510,000
- 4 homes at Durnford Street, Middleton, to be developed by Rochdale Council: £120,000
- 8 homes at the Nowster Pub, Middleton, to be developed by Rochdale Council: £240,000
Castleton
- 24 homes at The Junction, Castleton, to be developed by New Living Homes LTD: £480,000
- 191 homes at Castleton Sidings, to be developed by Kellen Homes: £3,020,000
Littleborough
- 50 homes at Hare Hill Road, Littleborough, to be developed by Rochdale Council: £1,500,000
Rochdale
- 14 homes at Drake Street, Rochdale, to be developed by Rochdale Council: £420,000
- 85 homes at Well I'Th'Lane, Rochdale to be developed by M7 Projects Ltd: £1,062,000
- 8 homes at Castle Inn, Rochdale, to be developed by Rochdale Council: £240,000
- 1 home at Milkstone Place, Rochdale, to be developed by Rochdale Council: £30,000
The remaining site at Station gateway, next to Rochdale Railway Station, has been allocated £1,000,000 for Rochdale Borough Council, which owns the site, to dispose of in preparation for 38 homes.
All brownfield sites identified for development have been assessed based on their viability and how they support the principles of the Greater Manchester Strategy. This includes the provision of affordable housing and the ambition to be carbon neutral by 2038.
This Government funding is the second tranche of the three-year £150m Brownfield Housing Programme, announced as part of Greater Manchester’s 2023 devolution deal, which set a delivery target of 7,000 new homes by 2025/26.
All sites must yet go before Rochdale Council's planning committee.
Work is scheduled to begin no later than December 2025.
