Yorkshire Street ready for facelift

Date published: 21/08/2007

Works have now commenced on Yorkshire Street which will see half a million pounds of investment transform the tired and dated street into a vibrant and modern shopping quarter.

Improvements will include resurfacing the street in natural York stone and granite paving, along with the installation of new stylish street furniture and feature lighting between Baillie Street and Reed Hill.

The Council secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund and Central Government’s Safer Stronger Communities Fund by successfully bidding for funding within the UK and Europe to deliver the environmental improvements scheme. 

Lowbury Construction have been awarded the construction contract and works, which started on Monday 20 August, will run for 16 weeks, with a completion deadline during the week ending 30 November.

Frances Fielding of the Special Projects Team said: "These works will make a dramatic improvement to the overall quality and environment of Yorkshire Street which has been deprived of investment for a number of years and is in desperate need of a face-lift. The businesses along Yorkshire Street have been 100% involved in the scheme and even voted on the design themselves, opting for York stone flags rather than using a cheaper tarmaced type surface similar to what is down at the moment."

This is an exciting time for Rochdale, which will see massive amounts of regeneration in the town centre, with a new bus station planned for 2010 and the Town Centre East and Riverside developments in the pipeline. The works on Yorkshire Street will act as a catalyst for change and will enhance the overall image and perceptions of the street along with the rest of the town, and give some confidence back to traders and shoppers that Rochdale is alive and is happening.

The Special Projects Team are hoping to secure additional funds to deliver a second phase of works between Reed Hill and Cheetham Street to enable re-surfacing to the entire pedestriansed stretch of Yorkshire Street.