The new sports complex on the edge of Bury and Rochdale will become the training ground for Rochdale AFC after the club’s promotion to League 2. The 10.7-hectare site, currently home to the Bowlee Community Hub, will be replaced by a brand-new pavilion, sports pitches, a play area and a 50-space car park.
New Facility Details
The redevelopment will include a clubhouse that will serve as the club’s base opposite the new pavilion. The upgraded community building will feature a community room with a kitchen, a fitness suite, four team changing rooms and two smaller changing rooms for match officials. The current pitches suffer from water-logging and the changing spaces are outdated, according to planning papers.
Impact on Rochdale AFC
The complex will provide Rochdale AFC with a modern training facility that will allow the team to train opposite the community hub, giving local youngsters the chance to watch professional players and potentially inspire the next generation of talent. The plans have been developed by Rochdale Council and Rochdale AFC in partnership with Your Trust, the Football Foundation, Sport England, Lancashire County Football Association and Lancashire County Cricket Club.
Community and Housing Plans
The new sports complex will connect to Bowlee Community Park via footpaths and cycle routes. The site is adjacent to the proposed 1,550-home Simister Bowlee housing scheme, which will be delivered over several years and split into three parts - north, south and east - bisected by Heywood Old Road (the A6045). The southern parcel is expected to deliver around 800 homes, with 550 in the north and 200 in the east.
The housing scheme is part of the wider Northern Gateway plan, which aims to build around 7,000 homes, create 20,000 new jobs, improve road and transport infrastructure and bring trams to Middleton.
The proposal, if approved, will significantly improve the sporting and community facilities in the area and support the growth of both Rochdale AFC and the local population.
