Over the coming weeks we will be featuring the six buildings that have been shortlisted for the Building of the Year Award 2024.
The Rochdale Town Hall quarter regeneration is pivotal in Rochdale Borough Council's vision of heritage regeneration of the borough rooting itself as a place of community pride and ownership, used by diverse community groups, visited by people from many places and backgrounds, and helping to establish Rochdale as a quality visitor destination.
The Council understands how significant their Grade 1 listed town hall is for the borough and its communities and how much work was needed to give it a meaningful future. Planning of the major restoration project started in 2016 and following a successful NLHF major batch grant the building closed in late 2020. One of the UK’s most important 19th-century building has now been transformed through careful repair, enhancement and intervention allowing the building to work as a 21st century civic building.
Before closure the town hall was underused, inaccessible and closed to the public. Following the restoration The Great Hall and civic rooms are once again wonders to behold. The new lift and staircase in the clocktower is a
construction and visual triumph. The internal circulation has been rationalised and clarity has been restored. The new terracing allows access for all whilst blending seamlessly with the new public realm.
The restoration secures the building’s future and once again makes it relevant to the people of Rochdale, who are already enjoying their reborn town hall.
The project has faced many external challenges; Covid 19, war in Europe, Brexit, inflation and a difficult market. The project team have overcome these challenges with focus, teamwork and innovation. Risks have been turned into opportunities and impacts significantly reduced. The project has finished in line with its original 2018 master programme and within the budget parameters set by the client.
A Council spokesperson said: “Rochdale Borough Council recognised the significance of its Grade I listed town hall and embarked on a transformative restoration project in 2016, supported by an NLHF major grant. Despite challenges such as Covid-19, Brexit, and inflation, the project has succeeded through teamwork and innovation, creating the UK’s largest pedestrianised public square and fostering strong community connections. The town hall now stands as a symbol of heritage regeneration, community pride, and Rochdale’s emergence as a quality visitor destination.”
The aim of the Building of the Year Award is to recognise a building’s contribution to Greater Manchester in terms of construction and development. This could include the building’s significance to the City Region, its impact on the local economy, its effect on the local community, its importance in terms of urban regeneration and environmental enhancement, its design excellence, or its contribution to urban design and townscape.
The winner of the Building of the Year Award 2024 will be announced at the Property & Construction Annual Dinner, which is being held 6th March at Imperial War Museum North - click here to book your place.
Previous winners include: The Christie Paterson Building (2023), Energy House 2.0 (2022), RHS Garden Bridgewater (2021), The Oglesby Centre at Halle St Peters (2020), Manchester Alliance Business School (2019), The Christie Proton Beam Therapy Centre (2018), Oldham Town Hall (2017) Maggie’s Manchester (2016), The Whitworth (2015), Manchester Central Library (2014) and No. 1 Riverside, Rochdale (2013).
The winner of the Steve Burne Apprentice of the Year Award 2024 will also be revealed at the Property & Construction Awards Dinner. The award is open to construction apprentices (technical or trade based) in the Greater Manchester area (they must be working towards a full apprenticeship framework or standard). Nominations close on 2nd February – you can make a nomination here.
Picture of Rochdale Town Hall taken by James Newton.