Plans revealed for huge Rochdale masterplan

Ambitious plans to create more than 7,000 homes and 2.7 million sq ft of employment space along the Calder Valley rail corridor have been unveiled.Rochdale Borough Council’s masterplan proposes major redevelopment around the area’s five railway stations; Rochdale, Castleton, Smithy Bridge, Littleborough and Mills Hill.The proposals, which were drawn up with Broadway Malyan and WSP, will prioritise the creation of new neighbourhoods on underused brownfield sites close to amenities and transport links.The work is being brought forward in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Station Alliance; a partnership of Network Rail, Northern Rail, Transport for Greater Manchester, LCR and the GM Combined Authority.Major proposals being worked up include 1,500 homes, 43,000 sq ft of retail space and 24,200 sq ft of office space around Rochdale station, as well as a new public square.Elsewhere, 1,500 properties around Castleton station, the extension of the Metrolink to Bury and Heywood via Castleton, and an £11m cycle corridor connecting Castleton to Rochdale are also lined up.The plans will include development around a potential sixth railway station in the borough.