A vacant bingo hall could be converted into an indoor sports complex boasting four football pitches and the same number of cricket lanes. The plans would see a radical change of use for the old Mecca Bingo site, in Rochdale town centre, following its closure in July last year.
Proposals for the Smith Street building also include a running lane and gymnasium, as well as an ‘open aerobic and free weight section’. Planning papers in support of the application - submitted by Richard Tracz - say the change of use would bring a number of benefits to the town.
“The applicant is wishing to use the existing building as an indoor sports and fitness centre providing the general public with facilities such as football pitches, cricket pitches and a gymnasium,” it reads. “This would bring the building back into use, promote health and fitness, and also bring positive benefits to the vitality and viability of the town centre.”
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Documents explain that the central area where bingo games took place will be converted to create the sports pitches and fitness areas. Many of the existing facilities would also be retained - including the main reception, bar and dining area - with the only change will be the creation of some customer changing rooms.
No changes to the outside of the building are proposed but the inside would be ‘reconfigured’ to create the sports and fitness facilities. There would also be changing areas and a cafe ‘available for use of members and non-members alike’
“People that work in nearby buildings and visitors to the town centre could make use of the sports hall / gym and also the café,” documents state.
The main entrance on to Smith Street will remain as it is - providing ‘safe and easy access for all customers’, while the visual appearance of the building will also be unaffected.
Papers add that the site benefits from the proximity of the large Smith Street car park, while also being ‘well served’ by public transport. Both the Metrolink stop and bus station are a ‘short distance way’, documents note.
Proposed opening hours are 6am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and from 9.30am to 5pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
Rochdale council will decide whether to grant planning permission.
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