Rochdale Development Agency

What Rochdale Development Agency does

Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) is a private local authority controlled company of Rochdale Borough Council, established in 1993 and headquartered at Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale. The agency drives inward investment, economic development, and regeneration across Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton, and surrounding areas, operating with a small team of 11–50 employees. Its core offering centres on three service streams: (i) inward-investment facilitation, including commercial property searches, relocation and expansion advisory, financial assistance guidance, and recruitment/training support delivered through a single point of contact; (ii) business support and aftercare services for the borough's existing 7,500+ micro enterprises and ~800 SMEs; and (iii) a regeneration programme managing major capital projects such as the £80m Rochdale Riverside scheme, the £60m Upperbanks mixed-use development, the Restoration of the Grade I listed Rochdale Town Hall, Richard Street Studios, and the Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone.

RDA manages a portfolio of 14 strategically located business parks, including the flagship 420-acre Kingsway Business Park at Junction 21 of the M62, and promotes the borough's competitive positioning: commercial property up to 40% cheaper than other UK locations (less than half London prices), 98.1% superfast broadband coverage versus a 94.6% national average, 75,000 manufacturing workers within a 30-minute drive, and the highest concentration of available industrial floorspace in Greater Manchester. Its go-to-market combines a direct sales motion (handling investor enquiries with rapid response and aftercare) with a community-led motion (NetWalks networking events, business community networks, business awards, and cultural marketing around the Town of Culture 2025 designation).

The revenue model is non-commercial: RDA is funded through Rochdale Borough Council appropriations and a multiplicity of public sector grants (Future High Streets Fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, European Regional Development Fund, Innovate UK, GM Combined Authority Brownfield Fund), and all services to businesses are provided free of charge. Distribution is direct, with no intermediaries or resellers. The agency's strategic position is reinforced by an extensive partnership network including Historic England, Manchester School of Architecture, Hampton by Hilton/Urbanbubble/Willmott Dixon as implementation partners, and academic collaborators such as the University of Manchester.

Name

Rochdale Development Agency

Legal name

Rochdale Development Agency Limited

Website

https://investinrochdale.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rochdale Development Agency is a local authority controlled company of Rochdale Borough Council that drives inward investment, business support, and regeneration across Rochdale, Heywood, and Middleton. It assists relocating and expanding businesses, manages 14 business parks, and delivers major capital projects including Atom Valley and Town of Culture 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development and Regeneration Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Land Subdivision (2372), Other Activities Related to Real Estate (531390)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Administration & Cadastral Services (Public Land Records, Parcel Management) (BPAIANAH)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Inward investment facilitation
• Business support services
• Urban regeneration projects
• Commercial property advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochdale

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Sector Funding: Rochdale Development Agency is a local authority controlled company of Rochdale Borough Council. As an economic development agency, it operates through public funding and council support rather than commercial revenue generation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

RDA is the local economic development agency for Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton and surrounding areas. It drives inward investment by assisting businesses with commercial property searches, expansion and relocation advice, financial assistance guidance, recruitment and training support, and dedicated aftercare services. The agency also orchestrates a major urban regeneration programme, delivering mixed-use developments, transport infrastructure, heritage restoration, and strategic growth zones (notably Atom Valley).

Product overview

Rochdale Development Agency offers a portfolio of economic development and regeneration services rather than a traditional software product. The core offering consists of inward investment facilitation, business support services, and a major regeneration projects programme. The agency's services are delivered through its website as an informational portal and through direct engagement with businesses. Key service areas include commercial property assistance, business development support, and coordination of the borough's extensive regeneration portfolio. The regeneration programme encompasses major projects including Atom Valley (Mayoral Development Zone), Rochdale Rail Corridor Strategy, and the Rochdale Town Hall Restoration, alongside commercial real estate offerings through 14 business parks including Kingsway Business Park and Stakehill Business Park. Notable completed developments include the £80 million Rochdale Riverside retail/leisure scheme, the award-winning Number One Riverside civic facility, and the Upperbanks £60 million mixed-use development. The agency also supports creative sector development through facilities like Richard Street Studios and Fire Up co-working space at the renovated Fire Station.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Inward Investment and Business Support Services Core agency service driving inward investment, economic development and regeneration across Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton and surrounding areas. Provides businesses with commercial property searches, expansion and relocation guidance, financial assistance advice, recruitment and training support, and dedicated aftercare services through a single point of contact.
• Kingsway Business Park 420-acre commercial business park at Junction 21 of the M62, positioned as one of the best-performing commercial parks in the North of England. Serves as the jewel in the crown of Rochdale's business park portfolio and hosts logistics and manufacturing tenants including Dachser.
• Stakehill Industrial Estate Business Park One of the North West's most established industrial estates offering modern and fully refurbished units; subject of a 2024 Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan consortium led by RDA with SSE, University of Manchester, Innovate UK and others.
• Heywood Distribution Park Secure, strategically located business park offering facilities for logistics businesses serving the Greater Manchester region.
• Fire Up Co-working Space Digital and creative start-up co-working space located in the renovated Rochdale Fire Station building, operated by GM Business Growth Hub. Funded by European Regional Development Fund (£699,774), Town's Fund (£1m) and other partners.
• Richard Street Studios Creative workspace facility near Rochdale train station offering 7 studios for digital and messier creative disciplines. Lead tenant Breaking Barriers manages the studios and runs artist development programmes.
• Rochdale Town Hall Restoration Two-phase restoration of the Grade I listed Rochdale Town Hall (opened 1871), one of the UK's finest examples of Victorian Gothic architecture. Funded by Rochdale Borough Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
• Touchstones Arts and Heritage Venue Major arts and heritage venue becoming Arts Council England's National Portfolio Organisation in 2024, undergoing redevelopment with £8.5m investment to create flexible performance spaces, creative studios, and new dining space.
• Tailored Business Support Service Bespoke support service covering commercial property assistance, business development guidance, PR and marketing support, recruitment and training facilitation, and access to funding streams and business networks. Targeted at both inward investors and existing businesses in the borough.

Quantifiable outcome

• £17m annual net additional GVA generated by Rochdale Riverside scheme
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers41 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SSE Utilities Solutions LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Part of consortium leading Stakehill Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan (LIDP) to develop strategic decarbonisation plan for net zero by 2038.
• Energy Innovation Agency (part of The Growth Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Part of consortium for Stakehill LIDP, bringing innovation expertise to industrial decarbonisation planning.
• University of ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Academic partner in Stakehill LIDP consortium providing world-class expertise for decarbonisation planning.
• Stakehill BID LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Business Improvement District representing Stakehill Industrial Estate tenants, part of LIDP consortium.
• Breaking BarrierscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Lead tenant and local creative organization managing Richard Street Studios and running artist development programmes.
• Rochdale Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993RDA is a local authority controlled company of Rochdale Borough Council. The Council and RDA work together to promote the economic well-being of the borough with RDA leading on engagement with investors and developers.
• Historic EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric England partners with RDA on Heritage Action Zone projects, including the Drake Street initiative focused on heritage-led regeneration.
• National Lottery Heritage FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded Rochdale Town Hall restoration, Fire Station museum, and multiple heritage projects. Provided £1.9m grant for Fireground museum and £250,000 for Touchstones 'The Dining Room' project.
• Greater Manchester Fire ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Fireground museum project at Rochdale Fire Station, showcasing fire service work and sacrifice.
• GM Business Growth HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Fire Up co-working space for digital and creative start-ups in the renovated Fire Station building.
• Your TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYour Trust is a partner in Drake Street Heritage Action Zone and operates Touchstones as council's culture and leisure partner.
• Rochdale Boroughwide HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Drake Street Heritage Action Zone partnership for heritage-led regeneration.
• Rochdale BIDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Drake Street Heritage Action Zone, representing town centre businesses.
• Cooperative College and Cooperative Heritage TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in Drake Street Heritage Action Zone, connecting to Rochdale's cooperative movement heritage.
• Arts Council EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded £8.5 million investment into arts and culture across the borough. Cultural Development Fund administrator for Touchstones redevelopment.
• Greater Manchester Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in brownfield development and wider regeneration initiatives. Committed to carbon-neutral region by 2038.
• Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone Partners (Bury, Oldham)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtom Valley is a cross-boundary Mayoral Development Zone covering Bury, Rochdale, and Oldham, expected to deliver 20,000 jobs, 7,000 homes, and 17 million sq ft industrial space.
• UrbanbubbleminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerManchester-based property management company managing Upperbanks 242 apartments.
• Legacy Hotels & ResortsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHotel operator for Hampton by Hilton Rochdale at Upperbanks development.
• Hilton HotelsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHilton's first offering in Rochdale - Hampton by Hilton brand operated by Legacy Hotels & Resorts.
• TouchstonescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor arts and heritage venue undergoing transformation into creative and cultural hub.
• Cartwheel ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural organization partnering on arts and cultural events and initiatives.
• Culture Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural organization supporting creative sector development.
• Create RochdaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative sector organization part of Rochdale's cultural infrastructure.
• Factory InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Greater Manchester cultural organization collaborating on creative initiatives.
• Royal Exchange TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Manchester theatre organization collaborating on cultural development.
• Willmott DixoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner delivering Station Gardens development - energy efficient homes aspiring to Net Zero Carbon standards.
• Greater JobsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal job posting platform where RDA advertises all vacant positions.
• Living Wage FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRDA is a proud Living Wage employer, paying real living wage to staff.
• GM Chamber (Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetworking events and business support collaboration across Greater Manchester.
• Springhill HospiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpringhill Hospice Business Buddies networking group raising funds while networking.
• Rochdale Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in Touchstones transformation alongside Your Trust as culture and leisure operator.
• Rochdale Cultural CompactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sector initiative building cultural infrastructure and supporting creative communities.

Scale indicators29 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/rochdale-development-agency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rochdale Development Agency