Abandoned Greater Manchester shopping centre will be brought back to life

The shopping mall closed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it never reopened

Urban explorers UK Urbex visited the abandoned Wheatsheaf shopping centre (Image: UK Urbex (Nicholas Martin Bignell))

An abandoned shopping centre in the centre of Rochdale will become home to a new banqueting hall and events venue.

The fifth and sixth floors of the Wheatsheaf Centre, where the library used to be, will be transformed into two event halls designed to host a variety of events. The proposal is intended to accommodate pre-wedding functions, wedding events, business conferences, and public gatherings.

The fifth floor venue will have a capacity of up to 280 people and the sixth venue will be able to accommodate up to 180 people.

An extension to the floor car park is also included in the plans approved by Rochdale Council. This will allow direct staircase to access the venues.

CGI of how the new events venue in the Wheatsheaf Centre, in Rochdale, could look(Image: Rochdale Council planning documents)

The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre closed its doors with the rest of the country in March 2020 following the coronavirus lockdown. But it was later revealed the mall wouldn’t reopen and it has remained vacant ever since.

Prior to its decline, it had been a bustling complex with five floors of outlets, including household names such as New Look, Wilko, and Ryman.

Planning papers, submitted by DHA Corporates Ltd, read: “Many functions and events, including weddings, concerts, and dinners, are currently held outside the town in other cities. This proposal seeks to retain a larger share of such commercial activities within Rochdale, responding to the high local demand.

“Consequently, it will boost local employment not only directly within the facility but also throughout the event-related supply chains.

The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre in Rochdale closed in 2020(Image: ABNM Photography)

“The development is designed to accommodate a variety of uses and cultures, with the client exploring potential partnerships with local businesses, corporations, and the council for hosting their events. The site would be transformed from one prone to anti-social behavior into a well-designed, high-quality venue that offers full-time employment and attracts a high-end clientele.”

The facility, off Baillie Street, is expected to employ the equivalent of 46 full-time and part-time staff members.