Winter 2021Rochdale Riverside: Award-winning flagship shopping & leisure development transforms town centre

Despite opening during the onset of a global pandemic, the award-winning retail development Rochdale Riverside has gone from strength to strength and transformed the town centre.

After years in the pipeline, the long-awaited Rochdale Riverside shopping centre was slated to open in April 2020. Back then, a global pandemic certainly wasn’t on the cards.

Covid-19 hit, and the opening of Rochdale’s flagship centre seemed in jeopardy – yet it has continued to attract major names to town and defy the economic fallout seen across many UK high streets.

Anchored by M&S, it comprises a mix of popular high street retailers, including River Island, Next, H&M, Superdrug, JD Sports, The Works and Boots, as well as leisure operators like Reel Cinema, Puttstars mini golf, Bean Coffee, Greggs, Crust Pizza and Heavenly Desserts plus an independent menswear store, DCM.

America’s favourite coffee and baked goods chain Dunkin’ Donuts came to Rochdale in October, one of just 16 branches in the UK.

Also joining the line-up and expected to open their doors before Christmas 2021 are popular restaurant chain Nando’s, fashion retailer New Look and one of seven Loaded Burgers locations.

Named commercial development of the year at the Insider North West Property Awards in October 2021, Riverside was created as part of the wider £400m regeneration of Rochdale town centre, delivered by Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), on behalf of the council.

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for economy and RDA board member, said the scheme has proved to be a big hit: “Riverside has helped transform Rochdale town centre, with visitor numbers steadily climbing, despite the obvious challenges faced by high streets this past year.

“The scheme has already created jobs for local people and will play a major role in our borough’s covid recovery, as well as continuing to boost our economy in the much longer term.”