Paul Waugh MP this week joined Minister for Local Growth Alex Norris on a visit to Rochdale and Littleborough to see first-hand the progress of key regeneration projects funded by the government’s Community Regeneration Partnership and Community Ownership Fund.
They were joined by Council Leader Cllr Neil Emmott, Cabinet Member for Regeneration Cllr Danny Meredith, and Council Chief Executive James Binks as they visited the Station Gateway site in central Rochdale and Hare Hill House in Littleborough — two major local projects that have received a combined total of over £20 million in government investment.
In Rochdale, the Minister saw plans for new social housing and a new public park, and improvements to infrastructure around the station gateway. In Littleborough, he met with volunteers Iain Bowden and Nick Andrews to hear more about the history of Hare Hill House and its thriving role as a space for local community groups, charities, and events. The funding awarded by government will secure the long-term future of the building — keeping it open and in use for generations to come.
Speaking after the visit, Paul Waugh MP said:
“It was great to welcome Alex to Rochdale and Littleborough and show him the impact of the funding we’ve secured. From new homes and green space at Station Gardens to the transformation of Hare Hill House by brilliant local volunteers, this is regeneration driven by community priorities. I’ve fought hard to get these funds over the line, and I’m delighted to see the results taking shape.”
During the visit, the Minister remarked that it was excellent to see a council with shovel-ready projects, a clear forward plan, and a strong ambition to bring in as much funding locally as possible.
Growth Minister Alex Norris said:
“Rochdale’s vision for more homes, jobs and a vibrant green space near its train station has been ready to go for years, but it lacked just one thing – Government money rather than just Government promises.
“So I was so pleased to see for myself just what a transformation our £20m Community Regeneration Partnership funding will allow on the former MFI site and around the station.
“As Rochdale’s MP, Paul has been dogged in lobbying for the investment the town deserves and the council are working impressively with us, with Andy Burnham and with other partners to make this vision a reality. It’s exciting that we are now going to deliver the change people want.
“It was also a real pleasure to meet the volunteers at Hare Hill House and hear their plans to use our Community Ownership Fund to bring this lovely building into greater use.”
Station Gateway: Building Homes and Revitalising the Town Centre
The Station Gateway project, one of three major schemes supported by a £20 million regeneration package for Rochdale, will deliver over 200 new net zero homes and a public park on the site of the former Central Retail Park. Alongside this, the funding will also support the transformation of vacant town centre units into cultural and creative spaces and a major redevelopment of Hopwood Hall College to expand higher education access.
Hare Hill House: Community at the Heart of Heritage
In Littleborough, the group visited Hare Hill House, a historic building now secured for future generations thanks to a £337,000 government grant. The building hosts a wide range of community activity — from local charities to concerts and exhibitions. Backed by Paul Waugh MP and secured through the Community Ownership Fund, the funding includes essential capital works and revenue support to ensure the building remains safe, accessible and available for long-term public use.
Paul Waugh MP added:
“This is a wonderful example of community-led regeneration. Huge credit goes to Nick Andrews, Iain Bowden, Moorend Development Trust, and the Friends of Hare Hill House. I’m proud to have supported the funding bid that will help safeguard this important building and all it offers to the people of Littleborough.”
Cllr Danny Meredith, cabinet member for regeneration and housing at Rochdale Borough Council, said:
“I was delighted to meet Alex Norris and show him some of our major regeneration projects, including Station Gardens in Rochdale, which will deliver more than 200 new homes on a vacant site close to Rochdale train station, many of which will be affordable.
“Building new, high quality and affordable homes is a major priority for the council and we were delighted to receive £15m from the government’s Community Regeneration Partnership earlier this year to help move the Station Gardens project forward.
“This is part of a much bigger project creating thousands of new homes on brownfield sites close to transport hubs across the borough, which are currently lying empty when they could be put to use as fantastic places for people to live.
“We’ve delivered a number of transformative regeneration projects in recent years, but with government support and investment, we will be able to do more, even faster.”
