Broadfield Park Slopes officially opened

We are pleased to announce the official unveiling of Broadfield Park Slopes in Rochdale, marking the final chapter in the wider Rochdale Town Hall regeneration. Gillespies, working with heritage specialists Donald Insall Associates, led the £1.5m transformation of this historic landscape, supported by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Public consultation highlighted that the area felt unsafe and underused, so our redesign addresses these concerns through new accessible pathways, improved lighting, expanded CCTV coverage and community-designed benches.

The formerly overgrown embankment has been transformed into a welcoming and characterful public space. A key part of this transformation is the restoration of the Grade II listed Packer Spout fountain, a natural spring that once provided water to early Rochdale and shaped the town’s development. The fountain has been carefully repaired and brought back into use. Across the site, new biodiverse planting and wetland habitats will help support local wildlife, while clearer sightlines and a flexible event space ensure the space feels safer, more open and more enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.

Delivered in close partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, the project strengthens connections across the town centre and enhances the setting of the surrounding heritage assets, particularly the recently restored Town Hall and the new Town Hall Square, both designed by Donald Insall Associates and Gillespies.

Cllr Danny Meredith, cabinet member for housing and regeneration at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted to see yet another part of our incredible local history being uncovered and celebrated for all to see and enjoy. This whole area is rich in heritage sites, which we have restored in recent years, with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Sitting alongside the recently restored grade one-listed Rochdale Town Hall and the new Town Hall Square, the Broadfield Park Slopes are now ready to play their part in this incredible historic quarter in the heart of Rochdale town centre.”

The team included Donald Insall Associates, Price and Myers, Max Fordham and Careys.