Rochdale rising: How mayoral powers are unlocking development opportunities in the north
As we reach the end of our virtual tour around Greater Manchester’s ten local authorities, we find ourselves back in the north of the conurbation near where we started. Throughout this journey, we’ve explored how each borough is responding to its own unique challenges and opportunities, while also functioning collaboratively as part of the Greater Manchester family.
Now we turn our attention to Rochdale — a proud, northern town working hard to bring about positive change for its people.
Rochdale’s story is one of innovation, resilience, creativity and ambition. Like many towns shaped by industrial decline, it’s faced long-standing challenges, not least in its town centre. But what stands out is the sense of purpose coming from its leaders. Rather than accepting these as inevitable, the borough is taking steps to reshape its future, most recently through its bid to become the UK’s first Town of Culture.
Reimagining the high street
Across the UK, the health of the high street has been under sustained pressure. Changing retail habits, the growth of online shopping and historic underinvestment in regional town centres have made it increasingly difficult to maintain a diverse and vibrant offer. For towns like Rochdale, these challenges are particularly acute, with essential services and community spaces gradually eroded.
Now, though, there is change in the air. This follows a successful year as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture celebrating the town’s rich cultural heritage, including its international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement. This is seen most obviously in a series of town centre murals, transforming blank walls into celebrations of local culture.
I spoke to the BBC earlier this month about how regional high streets like in Rochdale can proactively build on this momentum, and how focusing on and harnessing the values that make a place what it is is critical to take a town to the next chapter of its evolution. Like many places, the council here has recognised that town centres must evolve into multi-functional destinations — not just for retail, but for every aspect of daily life.
One of Rochdale’s breathtaking town centre murals created by local artist AYLO. Credit: AYLO
The next chapter in Greater Manchester’s regeneration story
A significant step in Rochdale’s regeneration story is the progression of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for Middleton. It’s a move that reflects a growing trend across Greater Manchester with local authorities adopting more interventionist approaches to unlock complex sites and accelerate delivery.
Manchester city centre’s transformation over the past two decades has demonstrated the catalytic effect that vibrant, well-connected urban environments can have on economic growth. Building on this success, Stockport was quick to harness that momentum, establishing an MDC in partnership with GMCA to springboard its town centre regeneration. The results have been a clear success, providing a blueprint for how targeted intervention can reshape perceptions and attract investment.
Rochdale’s decision to pursue an MDC for Middleton is the natural next step in this evolving regeneration story. Middleton has long faced challenges around fragmented land ownership, viability constraints and market failures, common issues facing many post-industrial towns. The MDC will provide a dedicated delivery vehicle to focus on and address these barriers, enabling land assembly, aligning funding and creating the confidence needed to attract private sector partners.
MDC board co-chairs Steve Coogan and Rose Marley are crystal clear that it will be delivered with cooperative values at its heart, prioritising the needs of residents and revealing a strong sense of civic pride.
As Steve said at MIPIM:
”Our greatest asset is our people. And we want to do it hand in glove with people, empower them, change the town in a way that is different from the way people have done things before.”
Beyond town centres: fuelling Greater Manchester’s employment engine
While town centre regeneration is a vital component of Rochdale’s strategy, it’s only part of the picture. Long-term prosperity also depends on the availability of high-quality employment opportunities close to home.
Greater Manchester has made significant strides in raising its international profile and attracting investment to its regional core, but there’s a growing recognition that the next phase of growth must be more geographically balanced. Attracting talent away from global cities such as London requires not only a strong regional core but a network of thriving towns that support wider economic growth.
GMCA’s tactic is clear: its regional towns must play a central role in Greater Manchester’s future. They’re essential to what makes the city region distinctive, offers high quality jobs alongside a better standard of living than many global cities.
This is where Atom Valley comes into play. A designated mayoral development zone, it’s one of the UK’s largest investment and economic opportunities, delivered through a partnership between Rochdale, Oldham, Bury, the GMCA and private sector developers. Focused on advanced manufacturing, innovation and logistics, it aims to attract investment, create thousands of high-quality jobs and position the northern boroughs as key contributors to Greater Manchester’s economic success.
Importantly, it’s about retaining local talent and attracting graduates who might otherwise gravitate towards London.
A fitting finale to the Greater Manchester journey
As our tour of Greater Manchester comes full circle, Rochdale stands as a powerful reminder that meaningful regeneration isn’t confined to city centres. From Middleton MDC to Atom Valley, it’s a borough determined to shape its own future.
Rachel Laver, Managing Director of Rochdale Development Agency, said:
“Rochdale is using devolved and mayoral powers in a very deliberate way; to unlock complex sites, address long‑standing viability challenges and create the certainty needed to attract long‑term investment. Whether through the proposed Middleton MDC or the scale of opportunity at Atom Valley, our focus is on practical delivery that reflects Rochdale’s values and supports sustainable economic growth. This is about creating the right conditions for partners to invest with confidence, while ensuring regeneration delivers lasting benefits for local people.”
For developers, investors and partners, the message is clear. Like the phoenix, Rochdale is rising and doing so deliberately. It’s creating the conditions for growth rather than waiting for it to happen. As Greater Manchester continues to evolve, Rochdale is well positioned to play a defining role in its next chapter.
This town’s story reflects the essence of Greater Manchester’s success: collaboration, ambition and a shared commitment to inclusive growth. Each borough brings its own identity and strengths to the table, and it is this diversity that makes the city region greater than the sum of its parts.
