Key Points
- Rochdale Borough Council has agreed to allocate additional cost of living support packages amounting to £15 million in the next three years.
- The financial support will assist people in Heywood, Middleton, Pennines and Rochdale facing economic difficulties.
- The funds have been allocated from the government’s Crisis and Resilience Fund that replaces the Household Support Fund.
- The support includes emergency payments, assistance with heating, debt and welfare advice, housing support, food and essential items, and access to warm spaces.
- The council says the fund will also help in building long term financial resilience through welfare advice, debt support and job opportunities.
- Hundreds of young families are set to be helped through the continuing Holiday Activities Fund scheme that offers meals, activities and free childcare during school holidays.
- Neil Emmott, Councillor, and Leader of Rochdale Borough Council says that the support package follows assistance offered over the last few years.
- The regeneration process of Middleton is also taking place through Mayoral Development Corporation proposals.
- The proposal of the MDC is expected to lead to the development of 1,500 new houses, including affordable housing, along with better commercial, recreational and public space provision.
Rochdale (Manchester Mirror) October 13, 2026 – Rochdale Borough Council has confirmed a further cost of living support package worth around £15 million over three years, while regeneration plans for Middleton continue to develop through proposals for a Mayoral Development Corporation.
As reported by Roch Valley Radio in its Leaders Column, the borough has seen “positive news, exciting regeneration projects and innovative services” in recent weeks. The column highlights two major developments: the council’s widened cost of living assistance and the continued progress of Middleton’s regeneration agenda.
The £15 million support package was approved by councillors at a recent cabinet meeting. According to Rochdale Borough Council, the funding will be used to help thousands of residents across Heywood, Middleton, Pennines and Rochdale who are most in need.
The council says the assistance will draw on the government’s Crisis and Resilience Fund. This fund replaces the previous Household Support Fund and provides the first multi-year funding settlement for locally delivered crisis support.
How will the £15 million be used?
Rochdale Borough Council has set out a range of practical support measures for households facing financial pressure. The package includes emergency payments for residents experiencing a financial crisis, help with keeping homes warm, debt and welfare support, housing support, assistance with food and other essential goods, and access to free warm spaces.
The council states that the Crisis and Resilience Fund is a three-year, government-funded programme. It is intended to provide immediate help to low-income households facing a financial shock or significant hardship, while also addressing underlying causes of poverty and helping to prevent future crises.
Alongside emergency assistance, the council says the fund will invest in services designed to build longer-term financial resilience. These include welfare advice, debt support, employment opportunities and other initiatives intended to help people maximise their income and manage household costs.
The package also continues the Holiday Activities Fund programme. According to the council, hundreds of young families will benefit from healthy meals, activities and free childcare places during school holidays.
What did council leader Neil Emmott say?
Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said the authority had maintained support for residents most in need throughout his time as leader. As quoted by Rochdale Borough Council, he said:
“Throughout my time as council leader I have ensured we have a helping in place for those residents in Heywood, Middleton, Pennines and Rochdale who are most in need.”
He added that he was proud of the council’s work supporting low-income families and said the new package “builds and enhances” assistance introduced in recent years.
Councillor Emmott also welcomed partnership working with government. He said:
“I am delighted to be working in partnership with the government, helping to alleviate people’s cost of living caused by many factors out of our control.”
He referred to the government’s decision to remove the two-child benefit cap and expand free school meals, saying these measures, alongside the funding injection, would ease pressure on household budgets and help tackle the long-term causes of poverty.
Councillor Emmott urged residents facing financial difficulty to contact the council. “My message is clear, if you are facing a financial crisis, please get in touch with the council we are here to help,” he said.
The council’s cost of living helpline is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm on 01706 923685.
Why is Middleton regeneration moving forward?
Middleton’s regeneration plans have taken a further step through the proposed creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation. A consultation on the proposal was launched in May 2026, according to Rochdale Borough Council.
An MDC is a statutory body that can speed up regeneration in a particular area. It has powers to buy and develop property and create new infrastructure.
In Middleton, the proposed corporation could support the delivery of 1,500 new homes, including affordable homes. The council also says it could create an improved commercial and leisure offer while improving public spaces.
The proposed MDC would bring together organisations from the public and private sectors, including the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Rochdale Borough Council, Middleton Cooperating and Cooperatives UK. The council says local residents and businesses would also play a major role.
The proposed boundary covers Middleton town centre and surrounding areas, including Mills Hill railway station.
Who would lead the Middleton MDC?
Rochdale Borough Council says the proposed Middleton MDC would be chaired by Middleton-born actor and comedian Steve Coogan and Rose Marley, chief executive of Co-operatives UK.
The consultation asked residents whether they believed the MDC would support development in the area, and sought views on the proposed boundary and the corporation’s name.
Steve Coogan and Rose Marley said they had been “astounded” by the engagement, ideas and innovation from initial discussions with local people. They added: “We cannot wait to get started on building a new vision and future for Middleton and we are keen to involve as many residents and businesses as possible.”
Councillor Emmott described Middleton as “a very special area” with its own distinct character, a thriving voluntary sector, successful businesses and a strong sense of community. He said local passion and knowledge, combined with the powers of an MDC, could bring “major improvements” to the area.
He encouraged residents to review the consultation and share their views on the proposals.
What has community engagement shown?
Alongside the formal consultation, community benefit society Middleton Cooperating has been engaging residents and businesses through its “Our Town, Our Future” campaign. Rochdale Borough Council says just under 2,000 people responded to its survey.
The council says a number of ideas have already emerged from that engagement. The results were due to be shared publicly in July 2026.
Roch Valley Radio’s Leaders Column describes the past few weeks as “busy and productive” across the borough, pointing to positive news, regeneration projects and innovative services. The outlet’s coverage links the support package and Middleton regeneration plans as part of a wider period of activity across Rochdale borough.
Background to the development
The £15 million cost of living package follows the replacement of the Household Support Fund with the government’s Crisis and Resilience Fund. Rochdale Borough Council says the new fund provides the first multi-year settlement for locally delivered crisis support, giving councils a longer funding period to plan assistance.
Middleton’s regeneration proposals have developed over several months. In May 2026, the council launched a consultation on forming an MDC for the town, describing it as a potential mechanism to accelerate regeneration, deliver homes and improve infrastructure.
The proposed corporation forms part of a wider set of regeneration discussions across the borough. Roch Valley Radio has previously reported that Warwick Mill was expected to be central to a major regeneration announcement for Middleton town centre, and that the council had agreed a deal to acquire the Grade II listed mill as part of regeneration plans.
The MDC proposal also connects to broader Greater Manchester regeneration activity. Rochdale Borough Council has previously said the Middleton MDC could work with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and other partners to support new homes, skilled jobs, transport connectivity and economic growth.
What could this mean for residents?
For residents in Heywood, Middleton, Pennines and Rochdale, the immediate effect of the £15 million package is likely to be expanded access to crisis support. Households facing sudden financial difficulty may be able to seek emergency payments, heating help, food assistance, housing support and debt or welfare advice through the council.
For families with children, the continuation of the Holiday Activities Fund could provide practical help during school holidays through meals, activities and free childcare places.
For Middleton residents and businesses, the proposed MDC could shape future development in the town centre and surrounding areas. If approved and implemented, the council says it could support 1,500 new homes, including affordable housing, as well as improved commercial and leisure facilities and public spaces.
The scale and timing of individual projects would depend on future decisions, funding arrangements and planning processes. However, the combination of multi-year crisis support and a formal regeneration structure indicates that both immediate household assistance and longer-term town-centre change are expected to remain prominent issues for Rochdale borough residents.
