Rochdale Council should have put the multi million pound regeneration of the town centre on hold until market conditions improved, according to the prospective Labour party candidate.
Simon Danczuk told the debate he believed the money being spent to redevelop the retail heart of Rochdale should have been ploughed into supporting the town’s existing businesses instead.
He said: "I have always said it was a bad time to re-tender it and it should have been done later on.
"They should have put the regeneration on hold and spent the money supporting existing businesses, start-ups and independent retailers.
"The money could have been used to stimulate the town centre, but instead we’ve been left with this void that has put us in the position we are in today.
"We have 43 empty shops – the second highest in the north west – because the council used the investment on moving forward with the regeneration project."
Paul Rowen, however, said Rochdale’s problems needed to be viewed in a national context and that the situation hadn’t happened overnight.
He added that infrastructure needed to be in place before any retail development could happen.
Mr Rowen said: "You need to look at all the town centre, not just the retail redevelopment, as a whole. You need to provide people with the facilities they need. I’ve brought the Metrolink back, it will be at the station by 2012 and in the town centre by spring 2014. That's progress.
"There is also going to be a new sixth form college, work will start in June on a new municipal offices, library and customer services centre. If these things are in place you will get the major investment in the new shopping centre.
"The council has not been idle, it has been supporting retailers, too."
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Henry Kelly, Ireland (21/03/2010 at 02:32)
The town centre development, which is to house around 2000 staff, will feature a new library and information centre, public customer services and training facilities, together with offices for other local partners. Although not confirmed, it is expected to have a gross floor area of between 250,000 and 320,000 sq ft.
The building will replace the existing Municipal Offices as well as 27 other current Council office sites and will be developed on a two-acre riverside location nearby on Smith Street. The offices will be next to the new transport interchange, which will see the Metrolink tram come into the town centre, and it will be at the heart of multi-million pound plans to redevelop the town centre. Clearance work is already underway and once completed, the building is expected to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
Curtins’ involvement in the project will include an assessment of contamination issues associated with the former site, potential flood risks for the new location, and the provision of extensive and innovative sustainable solutions.
Jon Moister, lead engineer for Curtins, said: “This is a dream project for any engineer to be involved with so we are delighted to have been appointed by Rochdale Council and look forward to working with them and the appointed design team.
“It is a vast development, and once completed it will serve as an excellent venue for the community and council staff, right in the heart of the borough.” Consultation on the outline designs of the building has taken place with hundreds of local people and council staff giving their views on the proposals. The design team is now working towards a concept design with a planning application expected to be submitted early in the New Year.
John Patterson, Executive Director at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We have a fantastic opportunity to create a great building. The council is committed to moving the borough’s economy to a low-carbon model, in line with national requirements, and this building will meet some of the most challenging sustainability standards.
“We are confident that we will create something that we, along with future generations of residents and visitors to the borough, can admire and be proud of.”
Councillor Mohammad Sharif, Rochdale Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “We have recently unveiled a bold new vision for Rochdale town centre and the relocation of the council offices, and the demolition of the current office building, will be a catalyst for our being able to achieve it.
“The regeneration plans will see Rochdale established as a sub-regional shopping centre with fantastic cultural and leisure facilities centred around the largest public square in England. The construction of this building will demonstrate our commitment to bringing positive and lasting change to the borough.”
Construction is expected to start next summer with the building due to open in autumn 2012.