New developer sought for Rochdale project
Rochdale Borough Council (RBC) has restarted its selection process for a developer to take on the £250m regeneration of Rochdale town centre, near Manchester.
Earlier this year, RBC had selected Wilson Bowden Developments to deliver the project, which includes a new central area, a new arts centre, cafes, restaurants and a new retail development. However, in light of a development project in Greece, the European Court of Justice ruled in August that "award weightings" should be revealed in the tender process, and after the High Court in London agreed, RBC decided to re-run its search for a developer.
An open day for interested firms was held on 16 December at Rochdale Town Hall, and a notice is due to be placed in the Official Journal of the European Union in February. A shortlist for the project is expected to be revealed in May, and it is hoped that a final decision will be made in early 2010 before work is able to get underway on the scheme in either 2011 or 2012.