Genr8 Developments has agreed terms with Kajima Partnerships Ltd as funding partner for Rochdale Town Centre. Genr8 was selected as Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council’s preferred development partner for the proposed town centre retail and leisure development in autumn 2009. Genr8 is currently working closely with the Council to finalise detailed scheme designs and proposals with a view to submitting an outline planning application next year.

Julian Rudd-Jones, Managing Director of Kajima Partnerships said:

“Kajima Partnerships has a long and successful track record of investing and developing in real estate in partnership with the private and public sectors. We look forward to working in Rochdale with Genr8 and our clients to revitalise the town centre.”

Mike Smith, Partner at Genr8 Developments said;

“We have been looking to work with Kajima for some time and it was really a question of finding the right project on which to collaborate. We believe that our respective skills are ideally suited to the Rochdale Town Centre regeneration and the partnership will now be working hard to bring our proposals to fruition.”

The proposals for the £150m town centre project, which has already undergone a first-stage of public consultation, include a new supermarket of up to 7,432 sq m (80,000 sq ft), a department store, additional retail and leisure facilities and improved car parking.

Council Leader Irene Davidson said:

“This is another important milestone for Rochdale town centre, with construction of the Sixth Form College completed, the building of the new civic offices underway and the Metrolink due to arrive in the town. We very much welcome the funding partnership and we look forward to working with Genr8 to progress a scheme through to planning application stage.”