New public square around Greater Manchester train station will become a reality

The Station Square project has been aimed at transforming the area leading to Rochdale’s railway station.

Rochdale’s Railway Station

A town centre transformation project has been given the go-ahead despite local council bosses losing out on £20m in ‘Levelling Up’ cash.

The Station Square Project

The Station Square project will give Rochdale a new public square, and a complete regeneration of the area leading to the town centre’s train station.

Council bosses forged ahead with the ambitious plans despite losing out the government money earlier this year.

The town hall submitted a planning application for the multi-million-pound scheme.

The area is a key gateway into the borough.

A Major Regeneration for Rochdale

Street art, better signage, enhanced lighting and improved walking and cycling routes are part of the plan.

The current taxi rank will be moved to ‘reconnect’ the station to shops and businesses in the centre.

“The proposed scheme presents a major regeneration opportunity for the area, comprising an improved public realm that will provide a new entrance to Rochdale,” a planning statement read.

A Catalyst for Investment in Rochdale

“The public realm, located to the north of the railway station, will provide a civic space for local communities.

“The investment in this area will act as a catalyst for further investment into Rochdale, and support wider regeneration initiatives in the town and the Borough. The scheme has been designed with two distinct character typologies; streets and square.”

The approved proposals are part of a wider rail strategy, which aims to regenerate brownfield areas around the borough’s five railway stations – building 7,000 new homes and a million sq m of new employment space.

1,000 New Homes for Rochdale

Bosses hope more than 1,000 new homes could also be built near the station itself, as well as green spaces.

That element would include 200 apartments and houses on the site of the former Central Retail Park.

Station Gardens Redevelopment

The development – Station Gardens – was also part of the rejected levelling-up bid.

Councillor Danny Meredith, cabinet member for regeneration at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The redevelopment of the areas around our train stations, including Station Square, is a key objective for us, so it’s great to see this fantastic project progress.

“This area is a vibrant and popular neighbourhood and its proximity to the newly regenerated Rochdale town centre, as well as the Rochdale train station, means it has huge potential to be even better.

“The approval of our ambitious plans represents another important step forward for this key gateway site, as part of our wider regeneration of this area and the wider borough.”