George Lythgoe

A proposed 1,550-home development on 98 hectares between Simister and Bowlee would include a local centre, primary school, green spaces, walking and cycling routes, and improved bus connections. The scheme forms part of the wider Northern Gateway redevelopment in northeastern Greater Manchester, alongside thousands of planned homes at Elton Reservoir and Walshaw and the Atom Valley employment zone, which is expected to create about 20,000 jobs. A future Metrolink extension to Middleton and possible tram-train connections could link the area to surrounding communities, but may be decades away. Residents and the Simister Bowlee Residents for Safety Coalition oppose the scale of the proposal, citing existing congestion, poor public transport and long GP waiting lists.

Hurstead, Smallbridge and Belfield on the edge of Rochdale are set to receive £19.6 million in government Pride in Place funding over 10 years, subject to approval by Rochdale Council. A new neighbourhood board will develop a four-year plan by November 30, 2026, with possible priorities including congestion, parking, green spaces, community facilities, maternity services and improved healthcare. Residents remain skeptical after years of underinvestment, while MP Paul Waugh has begun consulting the community on how the money should be spent.

Rochdale Council has approved plans by Mosscare St Vincent Housing for a 23-home apartment block and five four-bedroom terraced houses on a vacant site off Queen’s Drive in the Kirkholt estate. All homes are intended for social rent at around 60% of market rates. The development will replace a disused brownfield site, address local demand for affordable housing and aim to reduce anti-social behaviour. A community garden, operated by local group Q Gardens, has also been approved.

Planning permission has been granted to refurbish the former Pink Drips unit at Sandbrook Park in Rochdale and add a drive-thru lane. Developer AIG Holdings Ltd has not yet chosen an occupier and plans to market the site, citing demand for restaurants that combine traditional seating with drive-thru facilities. The lane will be built between the unit and the neighbouring Pizza Hut, using part of the retail park car park.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing has unveiled revised plans to demolish seven Lower Falinge blocks containing 126 homes and replace them with 270 homes, improved public spaces and better links to Rochdale town centre. The plans follow a successful legal challenge that halted an earlier demolition proposal. Andy Roche and his autistic partner, the only residents remaining in the Zedburgh block, say the prospect of eviction is causing serious distress and that RBH has not offered a suitable alternative home. RBH says the blocks are beyond their useful life and that the new scheme reflects resident consultation; it plans to submit an outline planning application in early autumn.

The £228 million A57 Link Roads scheme, also known as the Mottram bypass, is being built to reduce severe congestion on the A57 between Manchester and Sheffield. The project includes a new dual carriageway from the M67 to Mottram Moor and a single-carriageway link from Mottram Moor to Woolley Bridge, bypassing Mottram and improving journey reliability. Construction by Balfour Beatty is currently on schedule and within budget, with completion expected by winter 2028/29. Engineers are using locally suitable earth to halve the amount of concrete required, while National Highways says it will manage disruption for residents and work toward reducing the scheme’s carbon impact.

Shane Cullen, 31, died after an alleged assault at Blues Cabaret and Karaoke Bar in Ashton-under-Lyne on July 11, prompting a murder investigation and a police review of the venue’s licence. Greater Manchester Police told Tameside Council that alcohol sales and music continued while customers danced during the emergency response, security staff failed to properly monitor events, and CCTV was inadequate and delayed investigators. Councillors extended the venue’s licence suspension for three months and imposed conditions including earlier alcohol service cut-off, more SIA-registered door staff, removal of the designated premises supervisor, improved CCTV and mandatory customer searches.

Rochdale’s planning committee deferred a decision on Wain Homes’ proposal for 45 houses, the first phase of a planned 450-home development on former green belt land in Bamford. The delay was driven by concerns about flooding and the lack of a completed masterplan covering drainage, transport, highways, amenities and affordable housing across the wider site. Residents and councillors also warned that separate applications could produce piecemeal development and limit the scheme’s promised benefits, including a new Bridge FC clubhouse and improved sports pitches.

Rochdale Council has unanimously approved plans to convert the former stables at Julie Goodyear’s Primrose Hill Farm in Heywood into a seven-bedroom luxury family home. The site had been the subject of protests and false rumours that it would become an HMO for immigrants, while construction began without a valid planning application and prompted a temporary stop notice. Owner Dr Liaqat Malik said earlier submissions had mistakenly been made through building control rather than the planning process. The approved scheme includes en-suite bedrooms, living and entertainment areas, parking for seven cars, a garage, pool area and bike storage. Earlier proposals for an HMO, bed and breakfast, apartments and other residential arrangements were amended several times before approval.

Tameside Council has submitted plans to partially demolish the Concord Suite in Droylsden, removing its upper floors while retaining and securing the lower levels for potential housing, retail and leisure uses. The landmark, built in the 1970s and formerly used by Droylsden Council and as a community events venue, has stood empty. The demolition forms part of a wider Droylsden town-centre masterplan that includes revamped public squares, improved links to housing developments and a canal park connecting the centre with Droylsden Marina.

The Grade-II listed Astley Cheetham Art Gallery and Library in Stalybridge is set to receive a £1.8 million renovation as part of Tameside’s wider regeneration of the town’s cultural quarter. Proposed works include refurbishing the library and gallery interiors, improving finishes, adding an accessible toilet and installing a platform lift. The plans aim to address tired décor and accessibility issues while preserving important original features and avoiding excessive modernisation. Earlier work included structural repairs, improved lighting and gallery windows, and a new accessible entrance.

Spodden Park Ltd has warned trespassers, particularly children and teenagers during the school holidays, to stay away from the derelict Turner Brothers Asbestos factory in Rochdale. The site remains hazardous because of asbestos fibres, unstable buildings, difficult emergency access and the risk of fires. Security breaches reportedly exceeded 100 alerts in October 2025, with monthly intrusions estimated at 30 to 60 and rising during school holidays. The owners say the perimeter fence has been repaired and trespassing will be reported to police. Future redevelopment, potentially including housing and a park, is anticipated but no formal plans have yet been submitted.

A 19-month-old girl in Rochdale nearly died after being admitted to hospital with hypothermia, hypoglycaemia, severe malnutrition, dehydration and renal failure. A Child Safeguarding Practice Review found that concerns about neglect had been raised three times, but social services closed the case 19 days before the hospital admission because the threshold for a formal child protection investigation was deemed unmet. The review identified missed appointments, poor engagement, incomplete information sharing and insufficient investigation of the family’s circumstances as contributing factors. Rochdale’s safeguarding partnership accepted the findings and pledged to improve professional curiosity, supervision, historic information gathering and coordination between services. The child survived following emergency treatment.

Tameside Council forecasts a £15 million budget shortfall for 2026/27, driven largely by overspending in adult services, children’s services, housing and homelessness, alongside £13.5 million in missed savings carried over from the previous year. Council leaders have approved a recovery plan involving cuts to non-essential spending, departmental reviews and reduced reliance on agency workers. If the plan fails, the council’s £15.7 million general fund reserves could be almost exhausted by March 2027.

Wain Homes is expected to begin construction soon on 175 three-, four- and five-bedroom homes on 17 acres off Huddersfield Road in Mossley after Tameside Council’s planning panel approved the scheme. The development will include 26 affordable homes, a play area, footpaths, landscaped open space and road improvements. Hundreds of objections were raised, including concerns about overlooking, the location of the park and flood risk, but the panel approved the plans. First homes are expected to go on sale in summer 2027, with initial completions due in winter 2027, and the developer will contribute more than £450,000 towards local education, highways and greenspace improvements.

Alam Investments has submitted plans to convert the long-vacant St James Place on Yorkshire Street in Rochdale into 21 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The proposal involves internal alterations only and is intended to bring the building back into use, provide housing, and support the regeneration of Rochdale town centre. A heritage statement was required because the Grade II listed St Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church is nearby. Rochdale Council’s planning department will decide the application in the coming months.

Candidates for the next Greater Manchester mayoral election responded to 26 questions from residents and community groups on transport accessibility, air pollution, Muslim community concerns, social housing, financial advice, antisocial behaviour, local procurement, suburban investment, knife crime, cycling, youth services, heritage, greenbelt development, business support, culture, homelessness and employment. Geraldine Coggins, Bev Craig, Phil Eckersley and Richard Kilpatrick set out differing but overlapping proposals, while Reform UK candidate Sian Astley and Restore Britain candidate Marlon West did not respond. Common themes included expanding neighbourhood policing and prevention services, improving the Bee Network, prioritising affordable and social housing, supporting local businesses and voluntary organisations, protecting green spaces, and making local government more transparent and accountable.

Rochdale Council has given final approval for a 158‑home affordable housing development at Trub Farm in Castleton. MCI Developments will build a mix of houses and apartments, all offered at up to 80 percent of market value, along with gardens, open space and a children’s play area. The council and developer reached agreements on management of public spaces and infrastructure contributions, enabling work to begin following planning committee approval in 2025.

Londoners express mixed reactions to Andy Burnham’s arrival as Prime Minister, with many voicing concerns about his lack of a national mandate, unclear policies, and limited profile in the capital. Some residents fear London may be deprioritized, while younger people express more optimism, citing Burnham’s relatability and background. Views range from skepticism about the succession process to hopes that his northern leadership style could bring positive change. Despite strong northern support, he faces significant uncertainty and caution from Londoners as he begins his premiership.