The old Woolworths warehouse in Castleton could be converted into an indoor sports centre.
Soccer Factory Leisure is hoping to redevelop part of the large warehouse in Royle Barn Road.
The plan would use about one sixth of the total warehouse space.
It is hoped that the plan will also help stave off dereliction and the deterioration of the warehouse.
In a report to go before a council planning committee on Tuesday planning officials state they have no objections to temporary permission being granted because of the difficulties the owners of the site had in finding suitable tenants.
The report says: "The council would normally expect leisure uses to be within or adjacent to a town centre.
"However, as there are no suitable sites or premises within or adjacent to a town centre, the location is considered to be acceptable.
"The use will not result in detriment to the nearest residential dwellings which are at least 170 metres from the unit.
"It has been concluded the proposed use would not result in any greater impact than the existing use and the level of parking provision is sufficient to accommodate customer parking (75 spaces) off the public highway."
The warehouse closed with the loss of 400 jobs last year when the high street giant went bust.
Meanwhile the plans to build new multi-million pound civic offices and a public library, on land at Smith Street and Milton Street in the town centre will also be under consideration at next week's meeting.
In a report planning officers state: "The proposed building would significantly assist in the re-development of the river side area of opportunity, it would be accessible from other areas of the town centre, it would not contribute to increased flood risk and it would have an acceptable relationship with the adjoining and adjacent areas."
The meeting will be held in committee rooms one and two, at Rochdale Town Hall, at 6.15pm.
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Chris0706 (10/03/2010 at 09:54)
MPs gravy train, UK (10/03/2010 at 13:19)
So how do you fit Football pitches as per Soccer City into our town centre? Why is entwistle baths not knocked down and modern facilities provided in the town centre rather than refurbish what is there? Why is the Gracie Fields theatre where it is? Why is the brand new Heywood Leisure centre that is being built not in Heywood town centre.
Seems the council want to make it hard for private companies to provide leisure facilities where there is demand and space whereas the council do completely the opposite. I welcome anybody investing in the brorough. We need it.
The Chef, Spotland (10/03/2010 at 13:47)
KevinK (10/03/2010 at 13:53)
selfexiled (10/03/2010 at 14:10)
I hate to pour cold water on your hopes that this hacking up of a 100 year old industrial site will provide the youngsters of Castleton with somewhere to go. First of all they won't have the money to pay the fees and secondly it is not aimed at that sector of the market.
This is a re-run of all the developments that occured when the cotton mills closed down,large floor areas split into small units for car repairs, paint shops small business start ups low rent storage all the kind of thing that helps to provide jobs for the low paid ,it also takes away work from existing purpose built premises offering the same service which results in a never ending downward spiral of those then closing ,because they cannot compete as they have larger and more expensive premises that have larger and costlier running costs.The problem for the Council is they have to be seen to be encouraging activity in the jobs market but I would bet that the total number of jobs that exist when the whole site is split up into various parcels will be a tenth of the woolworth jobs.
So to sum up the nett gain for creating jobs is in fact a loss because other business's will close.
Do the council ever learn from history ,after all they write it.
cheapside resident, middleton (11/03/2010 at 20:37)
Certainly they need to check out health and safety at this dump of a deathtrap site.Does it contain asbestos? Maybe the roof and parts of the walls may contain some secrets.Certainly no shower facilities would need to be installed for any sport activities as the roof lets in water like a teabag.Over to the rest of you...