Recently there has been movement with the old asbestos factory in Rochdale, with developers taking steps to finally give it a new lease of life

The Turner Brothers factory was once the world’s largest asbestos manufacturer. A massive employer in Rochdale before being shut down in the 1990s, it has been abandoned for decades – an eyesore many locals avoid.

The creation of asbestos products began on the site in 1879, and by 1970 the factory was estimated to have an annual output of around 2,250,000 yards of cloth and 5,500,000 miles of yarn – all made from asbestos.

For some, it has been seen as a ‘playground’ for exploration in spite of the hazardous substances once produced on the site. According to experts, they still pose a threat to those who enter the ruin known as ‘Rochdale’s Chernobyl’.

Trespassers are the biggest issue faced by owners of the 75 acre site. According to Spodden Park Ltd, security was alerted of trespassers more than 100 times during October 2025. The number of breaches per month is estimated to be between 30 and 60, with intrusions up by 25 per cent during school holidays. It is believed many of the risk takers are ‘regulars’.

Spodden Park Ltd are the latest site owners to try and tackle this redevelopment conundrum. Three previous redevelopment plans have come and gone, including a 650-home estate. Although houses on the site are widely anticipated as part of the redevelopment, Spodden Park Ltd have remained tight-lipped on their proposals – which are expected in 2026.

Just 30 years ago, what is now a wildlife oasis in the shadow of an eerie factory complex was the heartland of a production line of the silent killer, asbestos. According to the site owners, the grounds in the immediate vicinity of the buildings don’t have asbestos underneath, but there is still asbestos present within the degrading buildings.