The has begun “fitting out” its new store at the Rochdale Riverside development. The Riverside is a joint venture between Genr8 and Kajima, in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, it will bring approximately 200,000 sq ft of retail and leisure accommodation to the heart of Rochdale town centre.
The UK’s biggest clothing retailer chose Riverside as a location which benefits from a catchment shopper population of over 1 million people, with a further 12,000 family homes identified for development within this catchment in the coming years. Investment from Rochdale Borough Council has transformed the area with additions such as a new transport interchange and a major new library and future investment plans include the development of town centre living.
M&S Rochdale Riverside will be the ideal destination for busy families to shop and have fun, with the site offering leisure facilities that include Hollywood Bowl’s Puttstars indoor golf facility and a Reel Cinema. There will also be a great mix of retail and over 500 car parking spaces, alongside good public transport links.
For M&S Food, the Rochdale store will be laid out to offer families everything they need for the weekly shop – with a real focus on areas such as fresh produce and frozen staples, alongside the food-on-the-move and prepared meals that M&S is famous for. For Clothing, the Click & Collect point will be easily accessible to support online orders and the store will offer contemporary, easy-to-wear stylish clothing including a big focus on M&S’s key categories – such as denim, knitwear, footwear and T-shirts.
Up to 100 new and existing M&S colleagues will work at the new store with recruitment beginning via M&S’s careers website in Spring 2020.
Simon Layton, Head of Region for Lancashire and Cumbria said: “Plans for our new store are moving ahead with pace and we can’t wait to share more details in the coming months. Every part of the store is being designed to offer a fantastic family shopping experience and best serve our customers’ needs. Rochdale Riverside is central to the town’s regeneration and, with its convenient location adjacent to the new Metrolink station and Transport Interchange, the store will be perfect for families enjoying the area’s leisure offering, as well as quick pit-stops.”
Steve Rumbelow, Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This new M&S store is a key anchor of the Rochdale Riverside scheme. It’s something the council wants and, more importantly, the people of Rochdale want, so it’s fantastic to see it entering the final stages of development, alongside Reel Cinemas, which has also started its internal fit out.
“Rochdale Riverside is on track to open its doors to the public in spring next year and we’re looking forward to celebrating the completion of another part of the £400m regeneration programme, which is transforming Rochdale town centre.”
