Nice Ride, Shame About the Emptiness
Last weekend, we had a family ride around the bike paths that encircle and crisscross Kingsway Business Park, which is apparently
one of the biggest, highest quality and most strategically important new commercial property developments of its kind in the UK.
This quote, of course, is taken the official website of the development. In truth (and this is just my opinion for legal reasons) the development is a sad white elephant and a shameful reflection of how bad governance can render a fantastic idea useless.
On the one hand, you’d think that combining the North West Regional Development Agency, Rochdale Council, Rochdale Development Agency and private developers would be a powerful mix. On the other hand, a committee approach to the development seems to have produced a vast, flattened landscape bisected by excellent roads and wonderful cycle paths. The vital ingredient seems to be missing…
Where Are The Bloody Businesses?
From what I can gather, planning the Business Park took years longer than was anticipated. Throughout 20 years of a constantly-growing economy, Rochdale Councillors and regional groups debated the best way of moving the development forwards. Years passed. Tree-hugging sandal-wearers fought the cause for the local wildlife because, seemingly, the poorly-draining farmland was a haven for some creatures that liked living in boggy fields. Years passed…
Then, eventually, work began. Roads were built. houses were bulldozed. Listed buildings were compulsoriuly purchased at great expense. The one which was earmarked to be the new pub in the middle of the Business Park was, last weekend, partially burnt down by vandals because of course it’s still empty.
Then, with perfectly ironic timing, the economy crashed. Businesses either stopped expanding, or reined-in spending either to protect themselves from the new risks, or because they couldn’t get mortgages against new property. Foreign businesses stopped looking to move into the UK… the global business outlook grew dim. Kingsway Business Park was all dressed up, with nowhere to go and almost nobody to move in.
Green Shoots
In fairness, there’s a small cluster of a few buildings alongside the motorway at the Minrow end of the development. I sincerely hope we’ll see someone else move in soon. It’s strangely saddening to be able to enjoy quiet cycle paths intersecting the former farmland between Milnrow and Oldham Road: an expanse of short grass and compacted rubble where formerly cattle roamed and houses stood.
For once, I’m not that grateful for the unbroken great outdoors. Rochdale needs the jobs; our kids need the prospects.
But for now, my kids love the traffic-free fun and openness. Every cloud, I suppose….
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