Chinese Delegation visits Rochdale Borough

A Chinese development company, accompanied by a team of journalists, visited Rochdale this week as part of a two week trip to the North West.

The chairman of G-Suite, Ms Wong Yuen Yee, met acting chief executive Linda Fisher, Councillor John Blundell, Asst Cabinet Member for Regeneration, and John Hudson from the Rochdale Development Agency at Number One Riverside.

G-Suite is exploring options to develop Warwick Mill and London House in Middleton into a mix of offices, retail and residential. It has just appointed the Oval Partnership, an international practice of architects with offices in London and Liverpool to look at designs.

Linda Fisher said: “We were delighted to welcome the team to Rochdale and look forward to working with them as they draw up details for this important  site and to receiving their planning application.

“Speaking to foreign journalists and TV crews helps spread the message about Rochdale’s co-operative history and future ambition to important key markets.”

Journalists from the Hong Kong Economic Times, Guangzhou Daily of China and Shenzhen TV Financial Channel visited Middleton and filmed from the roof of Number One Riverside.

Ms Wang Yuen Yee, said: “We have two significant investment property development projects, Warwick Mill and London House in Middleton, Rochdale.

Through these two projects, we will target to bring in various investors from China, Hong Kong and other Asian cities. From an economic perspective, we hope these projects will be able to benefit the local community of Rochdale.”

John Hudson said: “Rochdale borough’s location, excellent transport links, strategic investment and pro-active approach are the key to attracting international investment. Warwick Mill is a landmark building on the edge of Middleton town centre with huge potential and we look forward to working with G-Suite in the future.”

The delegation also visited Oldham, where G-Suite is already developing a site, and met MIDAS, the regional Inward investment company in Manchester.