An historic town centre building which was once home to Rochdale’s poor relief efforts could be converted into flats. Town Head House - which dates back to the early 19th century - and its extension would be divided up into 14 one and two-bed apartments under new proposals.
Plans for the Grade II-listed building, in Yorkshire Street, have been lodged with the council by Raj Property Investments Ltd. Most recently used as council offices, it has stood empty since 2014 when a decision was taken to sell the site off. A residential scheme previously tabled by a different developer failed to come to fruition.
The applicant says the proposal would provide a long term use for the two-storey, ensuring it can be ‘retained and maintained for the future’. “Residential use is considered the most viable option for the building with an existing demand for housing within the Rochdale borough,” planning papers say.
READ MORE: Future of centuries-old Greater Manchester market in doubt again - but it may not be too late to save it
“The building is in an accessible location to serve the local areas and, having considered office use to be unviable, it is considered that residential use, for which there is a demand, offers the most sustainable long-term use for the building.”
