m60 towns: john searle, rochdale development agency
TRANSCRIPT
John SearleChief Executive
Rochdale Development Agency
Rochdale Space to Grow
Rochdale Development Agency
• Established in 1993, by Rochdale Borough Council as a not-for-profit organisation
• Takes the lead role in – Driving regeneration and development– Project manages major schemes on behalf of the Council– Offers business support and advice to both existing businesses and
inward investors– Have a dedicated business advisor, co-funded with the Business
Growth Hub
Its Not Easy!Local Authority “Toolkit” has changed to:
– Income - Business Rates, New Homes Bonus,– Land/assets,– Covenant strength,– Commercial understanding/business approach
Rochdale = RDA single point of contact
Space to Grow
Kingsway Business Park
• Over £200m already invested• Over 2m ft 2 already built• Over 2000 jobs created• 5x speculative builds on site with units ranging from
35,000 ft 2 to 216,000 ft 2
• 130 acres available for development, creating a further 5,000 jobs
Kingsway 216
Kingsway Spec
Kingsway Business Park
Kingsway Business Park
South Heywood
• M62 J19 direct Link Road – GM priority funding• Will connect existing employment sites such as
Heywood Distribution Park/Hareshill
• Harbert just completed 2 spec builds of 145k & 67k sqft at HDP
• Graftongate construction of 95k sqft at Hareshill
Successes over the last 12 months
Investor Confidence?
Investor Confidence?
Rochdale Town Centre
Rochdale Town Centre
£250m investment programme - £170m since 2010, mainly public sector, but……………
………..now for the Private sector investment:
Rochdale Town Centre
Rochdale Riverside
Rochdale Town CentreBusiness Rates Sale!
• We’re offering businesses moving into selected empty units 80% off their business rates for 12 months from 1 April 2015 and 50% off the following year
What About Skills?
Housing & Employment Land Opportunities?
Housing– Completion rate of 400 units last year– 30% increase in planning applications in last 12months– Sites identified to deliver over 9,000 dwellings over 15
years
Employment Land– Current supply of 130 hectares– Core Strategy identifies 210 hectares by 2028
Are We On The Right Track?
• RDA/Rochdale Council approach to development
• Investor and occupier confidence riding high• Land Availability• Transport Connections• Skills investment
What do you think?
Thank you