Historic Grade II listed Greater Manchester building set for new lease of life after being targeted by vandals

A Grade II-listed building in Rochdale  targeted by ‘thieves and vandals’ could be turned into apartments after a new planning application was submitted. Proposals submitted to the council hope to gain approval to transform the offices at 132 Drake Street into six new flats.

The application states that the building has not been used for more than two years and has ‘been a target for vandals and thieves who have broken in several times and stolen anything of value’.

A previous application to build eight flats in the building and a detached dwelling was rejected earlier this year. However, the applicant claims that there is ‘very little demand for office space’ and that the building would better serve the town as a residential site.

The building is listed on the Historic England website which states that it was built in the early 19th Century. The new planning application  states that most of the existing building will remain unaffected by the works required to transform the historic site.

There is a small front garden and a large car park to the rear of the building, and other premises in the area are currently being used for a mix of retail and residential purposes. If successful, the plan is to put three one-bedroom flats on the ground floor and a further three on the first floor of the building.

Like much of Greater Manchester, Rochdale is a borough facing a shortage of housing. The council recently declared a housing emergency, as it stated that thousands of residents face a wait of up to five years for social housing.

However, the schemes submitted for 132 Drake Street does not state that any of the proposed apartments would be designated as affordable. The determination deadline for the proposal is Monday, December 18.