Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale for Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Borough Council with Gillespies, Donald Insall Associates, Max Fordham and H.H. Smith & Sons and Buro Happold

Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale for Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Borough Council with Gillespies, Donald Insall Associates, Max Fordham and H.H. Smith & Sons and Buro Happold

Rochdale Town Hall, one of the UK’s most important 19th-century civic buildings, has been unlocked for the 21st century public use. Extensive restoration has revived its historic fabric and opened previously inaccessible spaces to the community. Externally, the former car-dominated setting has been reimagined as a flexible civic landscape, replacing roads and parking with a vibrant square and green spaces that support events, gatherings and everyday use. The project reinstates civic pride and positions the Town Hall at the heart of public life once again.

Describe the context of this project, its neighbourhood and people.

Designed by William H. Crossland and opened in 1871, the Grade I-listed Rochdale Town Hall sits at the centre of Rochdale’s historic core, alongside a series of heritage assets, including the cenotaph, memorial gardens and the recently revitalised Broadfield Slopes. By the early 21st century, the building’s condition had deteriorated and no longer met the needs of Rochdale Borough Council, while its setting had become fragmented and failed to reflect its civic significance. Deteriorating interiors, heavy vehicle presence and a lack of high-quality public space weakened the Town Hall’s prominence and limited community use.

The restoration by Donald Insall Associates, together with the public realm delivered by Gillespies, has revived the building and its surroundings as a welcoming civic precinct. Targeted design interventions have improved physical and intellectual access to one of the UK’s most significant Victorian civic buildings, opening previously unseen areas to the public and reinstating its role as a cultural landmark.
 
The removal of traffic and parking has enabled the creation of a pedestrian-focused square and generous green spaces that reconnect the Town Hall to its historic setting and support events and everyday activity. Materials, planting and public artworks draw on Rochdale’s textile heritage to celebrate the town’s unique identity. Community participation has shaped the project from the outset, with more than 500 volunteers contributing to the design. The renewed Town Hall and its public realm now sit within a connected network of high-quality civic spaces, strengthening community life and restoring pride in the town centre.

Tell us what you did and how it was designed and delivered. Please explain the governance of the project.

The transformation of Rochdale Town Hall and its public realm was delivered as part of a heritage-led restoration led by Rochdale Borough Council, with conservation architecture by Donald Insall Associates and public realm and landscape design by Gillespies. The three-phased project was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and project managed by Rochdale Development Agency, who provided clear governance and oversight across design, consultation and construction.
 
A multidisciplinary team with proven conservation and technical expertise was assembled, including the client-side project manager, conservation architect, engineers, cost consultants, landscape architects, contractors and specialist conservators and craftspeople. Early collaboration with specialist conservators and the commissioning of a range of specialist surveys from the outset was fundamental to the project’s success. Engagement with the Conservation Officer, Historic England and other statutory consultees helped steer design development.
 
The design proposals were informed by a thorough engagement process including a series of workshops with user groups to understand their needs and operational requirements. Further workshops enabled user groups to feedback into the emerging design proposals. The project team also created paid employment and training opportunities for 50 local people.
 
A funded Design, Engineer and Construct programme supported more than 50 local students and a 12-week heritage skills course trained 54 participants in traditional restoration techniques. In total, over 1,086 volunteers contributed across conservation, research, cataloguing and guided tours, and 116 training and job opportunities were created. A new heritage skills studio established within the Town Hall now supports ongoing training, workshops and volunteer engagement.

How does this public space bring people together, encourage inclusivity, and make a positive environmental impact to the wider place? 

The renewed public realm at Rochdale Town Hall creates a welcoming civic setting designed to bring people together through flexible, inclusive and memorable public spaces. The removal of surrounding roads and car parks has opened up the site to pedestrians, creating a generous civic square and large lawn areas that support markets, community events and everyday socialising. These spaces encourage people of all ages to meet, dwell and engage with the Town Hall.
 
The incorporation of level access routes, accessible entrances and paving treatments support a wide range of mobility needs. Generous seating, including the textile-inspired Global Benches, create an environment that feels comfortable and welcoming, providing opportunities to sit, relax and gather.
 
 At the centre of the public realm, the Rochdale Carpet celebrates the town’s textile legacy through etched natural-stone artwork. Featuring motifs drawn from the Town Hall’s historic interiors, it embeds cultural identity into the landscape and provides a memorable focal point for both community and tourist interaction.
 
Replacing car parks and roads with lawns, trees and extensive planting has created a greener environment that supports biodiversity, improves air quality and contributes to cooling within the town centre. Natural stone paving, trees and native planting help manage surface water naturally.
 
Community engagement was fundamental to the project’s success. Workshops with user groups and local residents informed key design decisions, including accessibility improvements to the Town Hall such as the wraparound terrace and glazed external Porte Cochère, as well as the development of public art that reflects local heritage.