Key Points
- Peacocks has signed a long-term lease on a 10,181 sq ft store within Rochdale Riverside.
- The store is set to open in early October and will operate on both the ground and first floors.
- This lease pushes the flagship unit of Rochdale Riverside to 92% occupancy.
- The deal was made by RivingtonHark as Rochdale Council’s retail operating partner.
- The footfall of Rochdale Riverside increased by 15.3% in the past year, totalling close to 200,000 visitors in the month of July.
- Ollie Holland, asset manager at RivingtonHark, said that this shows “robust demand” in addition to occupier’s faith in the center in the long run.
- Councillor Danny Meredith, Rochdale Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and housing, welcomed Peacocks as “a popular addition”.
- Peacocks owns 345 stores throughout the country and will be opening up their Rochdale store in early October.
Rochdale (Manchester Mirror) September 23, 2026 — Budget clothing retailer Peacocks has agreed a long-term lease on a 10,181 sq ft unit at Rochdale Riverside, taking the town-centre shopping destination’s flagship retail pitch to 92% occupancy, according to Place North West.
The agreement was secured by RivingtonHark, which works for Rochdale Council as the scheme’s retail operating partner. Peacocks is expected to open at the start of October and will occupy both ground-floor and first-floor space.
Why has Peacocks chosen Rochdale Riverside?
As reported by Neil Tague of Place North West, RivingtonHark said the deal is the latest in a run of lettings at the 200,000 sq ft open-air scheme. The company also pointed to rising visitor numbers, with Rochdale Riverside recording a 15.3% year-on-year increase in footfall and almost 200,000 visits during July.
Rochdale Riverside opened in 2020 and has been asset managed by RivingtonHark since 2023. The centre is anchored by a 50,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer store and a six-screen Real cinema, with other national retailers including Next, H&M, Boots and JD Sports.
Peacocks, which was established in Warrington in 1884, now trades from 345 stores across the UK. Place North West reported that the retailer is billed as bringing a “budget-friendly, everyday proposition” to the centre’s retail mix.
What has RivingtonHark said about the deal?
Ollie Holland, asset manager for Rochdale Riverside at RivingtonHark, said the letting brings another nationally recognised retailer to the centre and activates a prominent, centrally located unit.
“The letting brings another nationally recognised retailer to Rochdale Riverside, activating a prominent, centrally located unit and further strengthening the diverse and growing fashion offer,”
Holland said, as quoted by Place North West.
He added that Peacocks’ arrival reflects “robust demand for well situated space and continued confidence from national and regional occupiers in the long-term appeal of Rochdale Riverside”.
Holland also said RivingtonHark works closely with local authorities such as Rochdale Borough Council to deliver long-term value across town and city centre schemes. He said footfall continues to grow, further lettings are in the pipeline, and the company expects to build on the scheme’s momentum.
How has Rochdale Council responded?
Councillor Danny Meredith, cabinet member for regeneration and housing at Rochdale Council, welcomed the agreement. As reported by Place North West, he said it was “great to see Rochdale Riverside going from strength to strength with another new store signing up”.
“I’m sure Peacocks will prove to be a popular addition to this busy and well-loved shopping and leisure centre,” Cllr Meredith said.
The council’s involvement comes through its retail operating partnership with RivingtonHark, which has managed Rochdale Riverside since 2023.
What does the Peacocks opening mean for Rochdale?
The new store will add to the centre’s fashion offer and occupy a large unit in a prominent central location. RivingtonHark described the deal as strengthening the scheme’s “diverse and growing fashion offer”, while the arrival of a national value retailer is expected to broaden the mix available to shoppers.
Rochdale Riverside is described by Place North West as the town’s flagship shopping pitch. The reported occupancy level of 92% indicates that only a limited proportion of the retail space remains available.
RivingtonHark manages projects valued at more than £1bn and works with local authorities, pension funds and global capital providers. Its northern projects have included Chester Northgate, Liverpool’s St John’s Centre and Heart of the City in Sheffield.
Background of the development
Rochdale Riverside opened in 2020 as a 200,000 sq ft open-air shopping and leisure destination. It is anchored by Marks & Spencer and a six-screen Real cinema, and its retailers include Next, H&M, Boots and JD Sports.
RivingtonHark began asset managing the scheme in 2023 and acts for Rochdale Council as retail operating partner. The latest Peacocks lease follows reported footfall growth of 15.3% year on year, with almost 200,000 people visiting the centre in July.
Peacocks was founded in Warrington in 1884 and currently operates 345 stores nationally. The Rochdale Riverside store is scheduled to open at the beginning of October across two trading levels.
Prediction: how can this affect shoppers and local businesses?
For Rochdale shoppers, the Peacocks opening is likely to provide another value-focused clothing option alongside existing national brands at Rochdale Riverside. Its scheduled opening in early October means residents should soon be able to assess whether the store adds to their regular shopping choices.
For nearby independent businesses and town-centre traders, increased footfall at Rochdale Riverside could bring more visitors into the wider Rochdale area, although the direct effect on individual businesses will depend on shopping patterns and the wider retail environment. The reported rise in visitor numbers suggests the centre is already attracting more people than in the previous year.
For Rochdale Council and RivingtonHark, the agreement supports their stated aim of maintaining occupancy and attracting national and regional occupiers. RivingtonHark has indicated that further lettings are in the pipeline, which could be monitored by local businesses, landlords and regeneration stakeholders as an indicator of continued commercial demand at the scheme.
