Rochdale Riverside Concerns have been raised over Rochdale’s flagship Riverside leisure and retail complex after it emerged the council is liable for the rent and business rates on empty units for next 34 years. The new town centre development – home to big names such as M&S, Next and River Island – opened in the summer, but has been badly hit by the pandemic. The cinema, clothes shops and food outlets have been seriously affected by Covid restrictions. Rochdale Council is the ‘head tenant’ of the £80m scheme and has an option to buy the centre for £1 at the end of the 35-year lease.