en.Wedoany.com Reported - Self-storage company Storage World has submitted a planning application to build a four-storey mixed-use building in Middleton, replacing the town centre facility destroyed by fire last summer. The project represents a total private investment of approximately £12 million, comprising £10 million for the building and £2 million for land acquisition.
When the original facility was destroyed in the fire, 74 businesses were operating on the site, many of which used it as their primary base. Supported by the Rochdale Development Agency, Storage World has served hundreds of local businesses since opening in 2016.
The project, submitted by Storage World in partnership with planning firm P4, proposes a modern four-storey building on a 100,000 sq ft site, with 9,000 sq ft of Class E units fronting Assheton Way, suitable for retail, office co-working, or other commercial uses. Located opposite Middleton Arena, the team says the mixed-use development will reserve land for the arena's future expansion while helping to unlock residential redevelopment opportunities on the remainder of the Old Hall Street site. The scheme has been described as the first privately funded proposal since the formation of the Rochdale Town Mayor's Development Corporation.
In addition to P4, the project team includes Bate & Taylor Architects, project manager Beaumont Lord, transport consultant Axis, Arbtech, Iceni, Civic Heritage, GeoAssist, energycounsel, and Racefield Consulting.
Storage World director Paul Fahey said submitting the planning application marks a significant milestone for the company and for Middleton as a whole. He said this is not just about replacing a building but investing in Middleton's future, and thanked Rochdale Council and development agency officers for their engagement and support throughout the nine-month design process. He believes that at this important stage in the formation of the Rochdale Town Mayor's Development Corporation, the development can play an active role in the wider regeneration of the area.
The Fahey family has been operating storage businesses in Manchester for 70 years, with operations extending across Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas. The entire site now covers approximately two acres, with the Storage World development occupying half of it.
