Committee Report – Rochdale Borough Council“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a qualitative need for improved care facilities where older facilities were unsuited due to their inability to offer flexible units for lock-down, and over-reliance on shared units. The 2023 study provided by the applicant highlights that of the 1,537 beds available across the borough’s 44 care homes, 695 or 45% offer en-suite facilities.”
The approved plans include the demolition of the derelict Parkfield House to enable the regeneration of the site off Manchester Old Road. Parkfield House was designed as a replacement to Middleton Town Hall by the nationally renowned architecture firm Lyons Israel Ellis, who operated between 1947 and 1983, and are one of the most influential post-war practices, specialising in education, public housing and healthcare buildings. In light of the building’s architectural qualities and historical connection with a nationally renowned architectural practice, it is formally included within the Council’s list of Non-Designated Heritage Assets. Accordingly, the provisions of paragraph 216 of the Framework were engaged which required the Local Planning Authority to have a balanced judgement to the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset. The level of need for the proposed care home was therefore a key consideration.
Under the consented scheme, Muller will deliver an 80-bed, three-storey care home with ensuite accommodation and a range of amenities including a café, hair and nail salon, and multiple lounge and communal areas. The development also features 20 new townhouses, offering a mix of two- to four-bedroom homes. Ten properties will be arranged in an L-shape along the eastern and southern boundaries, with a further cluster of four situated near the site entrance.
Detailed planning consent was granted 27th November 2025.
