A public consultation has been launched on plans to transform the former Central Retail Park into a thriving new town centre community – which is set to feature a mix of 200 houses and apartments (ranging from one to five-beds).
Local residents are now being encouraged to give their thoughts on Neighbourhood Rochdale ahead of the brownfield site’s renovation.
Designed to breathe life back into the area, Neighbourhood Rochdale will feature “stunning, design-led homes with beautiful architecture”, including modern, open plan layouts and energy efficient tech (plus electric vehicle charging).
The site will also include a food hall, general store, café-bar and flexible communal space, along with plenty of outdoor spaces for residents and the wider community to enjoy.
The Rochdale plans also include a public linear park, with circuit training equipment, self-timed sprint track, kids’ play area, an outdoor pavilion for events and BBQ areas.
Capital & Centric
Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital & Centric said: “Neighbourhood Rochdale goes beyond just building new homes, it’s about rebooting the town centre and creating a proper community where you can get to know your neighbours and make new friends.
“That’s why we’ve included tons of shared spaces, which could be used for everything from yoga classes to kids’ parties or even a cinema night, and meeting pods for people working from home, and there’s also the food hall and outdoor events pavilion to bring in people from the wider community.
“As you’d expect from us, it’s going to be very green, with beautiful terraces for all the houses and lots of landscaped spaces and lush lawns.
“We’ve got loads of ideas but want to know what local people think so give us a shout”.
Located just a short walk from both the Metrolink and train station – which offer an easy commute into Manchester city centre and access to the Peak District by public transport – the Central Retail Park site has been vacant for nearly a decade.
These new plans are part of the £400 million regeneration of Rochdale town centre and the council’s rail strategy, which will “level up the town centre” with 7,000 homes around the borough’s five railway stations.
Councillor John Blundell – Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications at Rochdale Borough Council – added: “I’d urge locals to get involved in this consultation, so they can help to shape what I’m sure will be a thriving new town centre community.”
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Keen to have your say?
With a public consultation that closes on Friday 4 June, there are lots of ways that people can join the conversation and all feedback will be used to help shape the plans.
A newsletter has been sent to over 5,000 households and businesses in the area with a tear-off freepost questionnaire (whcih can also be completed online here).
Residents can also join a live online Q&A with the team on Wednesday 26 May at 6pm, with sign-up via the website.
You can also ask any questions by calling 0800 689 1095 or emailing [email protected].
It is expected that a planning application will be submitted to Rochdale Borough Council in the summer.
Featured Image – Capital & Centric
Rochdale
New community arts festival with dozens of FREE events to take over Rochdale this summer
Emily Sergeant
A new arts festival is coming to Rochdale this month, bringing a week of performances, exhibitions, and hands-on activities ‘shaped by local people’.
Developed with community input and led by local voices, Side-by-Side – which has been organised by Touchstones Rochdale – will showcase Rochdale’s talent, imagination, and creativity in a bid to bring people together, strengthen community spirit, and share the stories, cultures and activities that make the borough unique.
Across the week of the festival, visitors can enjoy a packed programme of fantastic events led by local community groups.
These range from performances and exhibitions, to baby yoga, creative workshops, and more.
One of the festival’s stand-out events is set to be a funny and thought-provoking performance set in a children’s hospital called Ward 76.
The show blends comedy with real-life themes, and explores growing up, disability myths, and the everyday humour that connects us, and then after the performance has finished, audiences can join in a wheelchair obstacle course to bring the show’s themes to life.
The Friday of the festival brings the chance to relax and build confidence, as there’ll be a ‘Pizza Party’ where professional artists from Rochdale’s Side-by-Side: ‘Set A’ youth group will set out picnic blankets and serve free pizza in a relaxed community setting, before the afternoon then shifts its spotlight onto Rochdale’s Youth Takeover where young people from across the borough have curated a full line-up of activities.
From meditation sessions to hands-on creative workshops, the afternoon will be packed with opportunities for young voices to be heard and celebrated.
A new community arts festival with dozens of free events takes over Rochdale this summer / Credit: Alan Hamer (Supplied)
Some of the other events on the lineup include a relaxed drop-in workshop featuring mindful drawing, beading and more, and more plays and productions presented by local drama groups set up to support Rochdale residents.
“Side-by-Side is a new arts festival for the borough of Rochdale that is about bringing together, working together and being together,” commented Harry Meadley, who is the festival’s Creative Lead.
“It’s a chance to experience and celebrate artworks, performances, events, workshops and activities created by people from across the borough. But more than that, it’s an invitation to get involved – not just now, but in shaping the festivals to come.
“So whether as a visitor, spectator, participant or future collaborator, we look forward to welcoming you in, and sitting or standing side by side with you.”
Side-by-Side is taking over Rochdale Town Hall Square from Wednesday 20 to Wednesday 27 August.
All events are either free to attend or offered on a ‘pay what you can’ basis – with options to pay £2.50, £5, or £7.50, as any income generated will be reinvested in supporting further community-led work through Touchstones.
Featured Image – Alan Hamer (Supplied)
Rochdale
Private tutor with ‘sordid sexual agenda’ jailed after sexually assaulting five young girls
Emily Sergeant
A private tutor with a ‘sordid sexual agenda’ has been jailed after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a number of young girls.
Umair Iqbal, from the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester, served as a private Quran and maths tutor in the Greater Manchester area, but over a 10-year period between 2010 and 2020, he would regularly attended the homes of the young women and girls to conduct his scheduled lessons and proceed to sexually assault several of them.
Primary inquiries into the 37-year-old began in October 2020 when the first account of sexual abuse was reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) by a victim – who was just 15 years old at the time.
After years of believing the abuse was a fault of her own, the victim found the courage to inform her family and then the police, and a subsequent investigation into Mr Iqbal’s actions was launched by Rochdale’s multi-agency safeguarding team, known then as the sunrise team.
The investigation soon revealed the extent of Mr Iqbal’s abusive behaviour, and went on to unearth a further four victims – including a victim who had been abused from the age of eight years old.
#JAILED | Private tutor sentenced to 14 years for sexual assault of five women and girls
Umair Iqbal (28/11/1987), of Lecester Road, Cheetham Hill, was found guilty of 29 out of 30 counts of sexual assault against five children and adults aged eight-18 years of age. pic.twitter.com/VEwP2OYquk
“All five victims were young Muslim girls from good families, abused by a person in a position of trust and silenced through fear of getting in trouble or being blamed for the abuse,” explained Rochdale’s Detective Constable Alex Dodd, who lead the case said.
“Iqbal befriended families and used the good reputation of a community to hide behind his sordid sexual agenda.”
Following a four-week trial, Mr Iqbal was found guilty of 29 out of 30 counts of sexual assault against five children and adults, between the ages of eight and 18.
He appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday last week (7 August 2025), where he was subsequently sentenced to 14 years – 11 of those being in prison, of which he must serve two-thirds, with a further three on extended license.
He is also subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining orders for all victims and their families.
“I would like to recognise and thank all five victims and their families for their determination during the lengthy investigation and four-week trial, which was a distressing process for them,” DC Alex Dodd concluded.
GMP encourages anyone who feels they may have been subjected to Mr Iqbal’s behaviour to come forward and report it on 101, quoting ‘Operation Ganister.’
Emily Sergeant -
21st May 2021 
