Re-opened River Roch to boost Rochdale economy by £6.72m

A multi-million pound project to re-open Rochdale’s River Roch and transform the town centre by exposing its historic bridge is now complete.

Originally built in medieval times and expanded as Rochdale grew, the bridge was concreted over in the early 1900s along with a section of the river to make way for the town’s growing tram network.

With work now finished on a £5m scheme to expose the old bridge, Rochdale Borough Council has said the project could funnel as much as £6.72m into the town’s economy over the next 10 years.

The project, backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Environment Agency, forms part of a wider £250m plan to revitalise Rochdale town centre.

Benches have been installed around the reopened river along with new greenery. Part of nearby Yorkshire Street and Baillie Street will be paved with York stone later in 2016

Rochdale Borough Council Leader Cllr Richard Farnell said: “This marks another milestone in our ambitious regeneration programme, following the news that Next, M&S and Reel cinemas will be part of our new shopping and leisure development, Rochdale Riverside.

“We’re working really hard to give our residents and visitors the kind of vibrant town centre that they want and we’re well on our way to achieving that.

“With a Grade-I Listed town hall, Saxon church and Grade I Listed war memorial just a stone’s throw from the newly reopened historic bridge, it’s clear that Rochdale has some incredible heritage. Now, with the completion of this project, we have shed even more light on our borough’s fascinating history.”

He added: “We’ve already seen lots more visitors to the town hall since the tram came to Rochdale town centre and I’m confident that even more tourists will come to enjoy all our town has to offer now this important scheme is complete.”

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