Multi million pound plans to transform Heywood Civic Centre into a first class arts and performance venue have moved closer, with a planning application now submitted by the scheme’s architects, K2.
Under the ambitious proposals, the much loved venue, which has been at the heart of Heywood life since it opened in the 1960s, will undergo a major revamp to create a modern and flexible space which is accessible to all the community.
The improvements proposed include the Creation of a brand new glazed frontage onto Peine Square to modernise the building’s appearance and open up the new foyer as well as increasing the the size of the foyer, with a brand new café and bar area at the front of the building.
There will be Upgrades to the performance space, including new sound and lighting and
Brand new retractable seating in the auditorium to allow flexible use of the space.
More lifts and accessible toilets, including a Changing Places facility and baby changing station to make the building accessible to all.
The changes will enable the venue to build on the success of its popular events programme, with new opportunities for the community to participate in the arts, as well as the relocation of local arts organisation, Cartwheel Arts, to a new base in the centre.
The plans, which have been honed following discussions with the local community, also include reconfiguration of the back of house facilities, creating a larger changing room area for the performers. This will allow for an even bigger and better variety of productions to be staged.
The plans are part of an £8.5 million investment into arts and culture in the borough over the next 3 years, thanks to Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport funding. In addition to Heywood Civic Centre, Touchstones Rochdale is being transformed into a visual arts led creative and cultural hub, alongside the creation of a cultural district in Rochdale town centre.
The redevelopment of the civic centre is a key part of the Heywood masterplan, a strategy which will change the face of the area. Plans also include major improvements to the roads within the town centre, the creation of new public realm, new cycling and walking routes, and the complete refurbishment of Queen’s Park Bridge, which gets underway in January 2024. New homes will also be delivered in the area, including 72 new properties at the former Marina Ropeworks site, which have just been approved by council planners.
