Belfield before Newlands

Sandwiched between the River Roch and Rochdale Canal to the east of Rochdale town centre, Belfield was made up of an assortment of fragmented and underused sites.

The Belfield site previously had a range of uses – from a domestic waste tip to bleach works and a chemical plant. There were derelict structures across the site including four abandoned mill lodges in the middle of a residential area. Only one of these was clean enough for local fishing clubs to use.

The site as a whole was very poorly used, and was seen as a cut through to somewhere else or as a playground for anti-social activity.

Local communities close to Belfield embraced the opportunities to get involved with the project.

What Newlands did at Belfield

Belfield was transformed into one cohesive area, an attractive place for people to spend time. Newlands created an outdoor classroom, cycle paths, bridleways, riverside walks and a football pitch. It also regenerated the fishing lodge and installed modern play equipment.

An important feature of Belfield was connectivity – the idea of linking a number of separate sites together, and with the local communities around them. Carefully planned routes were developed to make these links easier and also to provide a green link between Kingsway Business Park and Rochdale town centre.

The cycle paths were created to link to National Cycle Routes 92 and 66 and establish Belfield as Rochdale’s central hub for cycling.

Local communities close to Belfield embraced the opportunities to get involved with the project. Events and activities on the site were well attended, and local community groups even made their own film about the project.

Belfield is a network of community woodlands, interlinked by pathways to create an appealing route in and out of Rochdale town centre.

Belfield today

Belfield is a network of community woodlands, interlinked by pathways to create an appealing route in and out of Rochdale town centre.

The Forestry Commission is managing Belfield over the long term. It is hoped that the site will continue to connect the diverse communities across this area of Rochdale and be an integral part of Rochdale’s wider regeneration.

In the past, Belfield was very poorly used and seen as a cut through to somewhere else or as a playground for anti-social activity.

Belfield Past

Belfield Present