Historic town hall renovation scoops another award

The stunning renovation of Rochdale Town Hall has scooped yet another prestigious award.

The Grade I-listed building fully reopened last year following a £20 million restoration project.

It’s latest accolade is the Europa Nostra award — Europe’s most distinguished award for heritage, with the town hall among only three winners selected from 261 applications.

Other honours this year include the Civic Trust Awards, in which the project received the highly coveted Michael Middleton Special Award for Excellence in Conservation, alongside a Civic Trust Conservation Award.

It scooped four awards at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) North West Awards 2026 in June, including RIBA North West Award 2026, RIBA North West Project Architect of the Year 2026, RIBA North West Client of the Year 2026 and RIBA North West Conservation Award 2026.

Previously, the town hall was voted the Association for Project Management (APM) Awards 2025 – Social Project of the Year, recognising the project’s community, skills and economic impact.

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It also received the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence 2025 – North West Commendation for Heritage and Culture, having won Heritage Project of the Year at the RICS Awards last year.

Awarding the latest accolade, the judges said the restoration demonstrated how “historic civic buildings can act as anchors of heritage-led regeneration, helping rebuild public trust, civic pride and a sense of shared ownership within the local community”.

Cllr Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and cooperation at Rochdale Council, said: “To see that the town hall’s restoration puts it among the best historic buildings in Europe is a real feather in its cap.

“We know that the town hall is a very special place, but the sheer number of awards it has received since reopening show that countless others, including experts in heritage and conservation, share our admiration for it.”

The town hall has received almost 250,000 visitors since the beginning of 2024.

Events, tours and other activities regularly take place there, with bookings now open for Christmas dinner at the building’s celebrated restaurant, The Martlet Kitchen.

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