The development of 2, 3-and 4-bedroom homes on a brownfield site next to Rochdale’s Central Retail Park, known as John Rennie Place, is scheduled for completion in December 2027. However, the project, led by Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council, has already generated considerable advantages for the wider community.
Contractor Willmott Dixon has committed to spending £5 million with local businesses. To date, £3.3 million has been spent with Hovington Ltd, a civil engineering firm based less than a mile from the site that handled all the groundwork. Further contracts with two other Rochdale businesses are being finalised.
The project has also created 95 weeks of apprenticeship and T-Level training. This includes three T-Level placements from Hopwood Hall College, with students honing their skills on site. Willmott Dixon and Faber Joinery collaborated with year 10 students from Newhouse Academy on the Baker Award, a national accreditation for workplace readiness, and delivered a careers in construction session.
Seven local residents are employed on the project, including two individuals who were previously unemployed, with support from the council’s work and skills team. Tommy Patterson, 22, from Middleton, secured a scaffolding apprenticeship on the site after receiving support to obtain his CSCS card, describing the job as a "lifeline".
Councillor Danny Meredith, cabinet member for housing and regeneration at Rochdale Borough Council, stated: "We want local people and businesses to feel the benefit of local projects and it’s great to see that these benefits are already being felt on this development before a single house has even been completed."
The development, which is being built to net zero standard, has transformed a derelict site near Rochdale railway station and attracted £15 million from the government’s community regeneration partnerships fund. Work is also underway on 142 apartments adjacent to the new homes.
“"We share Rochdale Council and Rochdale Development Agency’s passion for ensuring John Rennie Place is built for the people of Rochdale by the people of Rochdale. We are committed to creating a lasting legacy beyond the project. Our team are incredibly proud to have delivered a bespoke ‘Building Lives Academy’ skills programme for local people not in education, employment or training (NEET). We’re looking forward to continuing our community projects in the area and continuing our work with Hopwood Hall College, supporting their T-Level students and delivering further work experience placements."
