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Huge change is coming to Rochdale in 2025 - with key infrastructure projects set to transform the landscape of the borough. With the demand for housing growing and pressure from the government to build more homes, planning projects are going to be turbo-charged in the new year. The onus is on local authorities to spark the projects to breathe new life into areas that have become unused, unloved or fallen derelict. The core centre of economic development will take place right in the heart of the borough, in Rochdale town centre. Although housing is a top priority, there are ambitious plans in the area to boost the leisure and culture sector too. There is a growing sense of optimism that projects such as Station Square, the land around the train station, can finally see lift off. Going further afield, the Atom Valley project which will create thousands of new jobs, homes, and employment space is set to materialise with the new Innovation Centre recently getting the green light. Here is a closer look at the key projects that are expecting to progress in 2025: Regeneration of land around Rochdale station An aerial view of the how the new Station Square, in Rochdale, could look. (Image: Rochdale council.) The multi-million pound plan to regenerate the town centre is connected by three major projects: Upperbanks, Station Gardens and Station Square. Upperbanks is a large 242-home and retail project that is already well underway. Although not quite complete, the Rochdale Riverside retail and leisure complex in the town centre has already seen significant progress. The same can’t be said for the former home of Central Retail Park. The site is earmarked for 142 apartments and a further 81 town houses, but the project has stalled due to lack of investment. There is still hope from the council that the scheme can get going, despite losing out on Levelling Up funding. Given the project was approved in 2022, the developers have three years to commence building work. They may need to get renewed planning permission if they don’t start work before December 2025. The final part of the town centre regeneration is Station Square. Plans for a new public square outside Rochdale train station were approved in July 2023, under a scheme aiming to provide a pedestrianised gateway to the town. It aims to create "pedestrian prioritised routes" and be "traffic calmed through design", transforming the area with a multi-million pound design. Rochdale Town Hall - final phase Rochdale Town Hall (Image: The Martlet) The iconic Rochdale Town Hall finally reopened in Spring after shutting its doors back in 2020. The long awaited return of the Grade-I listed building, which has stood in the heart of the town since 1871, saw hundreds flock in to see all the dazzling changes made. Local volunteers had put in thousands of hours into the £20m project which saw the public building brought back into use. A number of the historic features the building is so well known for, including the decorative ceiling panels and angels in the Great Hall, the Magna Carta mural, the extensive stained glass, painted surfaces and stonework have been painstakingly restored and cleaned. The final phase is due to be completed in 2025, with the western wing of the hall set to be finalised. It is expected that this year will see the council finally host a meeting in the chamber after years of it being out of action. Broadfield Slopes How the pond at the newly revamped Broadfield Park Slopes in Rochdale could look (Image: Rochdale Council) The historic Broadfield Slopes in the centre of Rochdale will soon be transformed after £1.6m plans were given the green light in July. The site, which forms part of the Grade-II listed park which runs behind the town hall, is currently seen as ‘dangerous’ and a ‘hive of anti-social behaviour’. Proposals include plans for a new platform for event space with seating at the centre of the transformation. In addition to the stage, new footways will be lined with trees and planters designed to spruce up the area leading to the historic Packer Spout feature. The existing pool at the top will be cleaned up and expanded to create an ecological pond which can be used by the local school and community for education. Better lighting and an expanded CCTV network are also included to deter crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. Atom Valley's Innovation Centre Entrance view of new Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) planned for Atom Valley in Rochdale (Image: Rochdale Development Agency) The plan for a manufacturing hub at the Atom Valley Innovation Centre - at Kingsway Business Park - was approved in October. The 'sustainable materials and manufacturing centre' (SMMC) will boast 2,724 sq m of space and will have laboratory space; workshops; metrology space; and design and analysis studios. A lecture theatre; meeting rooms; flexible workspace for start-ups; office space for manufacturers; and a café are also included in the plans. Atom Valley is one of six growth locations in Greater Manchester and includes significant parts of Bury , Oldham and Rochdale. It is a vast area of 17 million sq ft employment space, with the potential to offer 20,000 'highly-skilled' roles in the technology and manufacturing sectors. Heywood Civic Centre New visuals have been released showing how the Heywood Civic Centre could look following the renovation (Image: Rochdale Council) The transformation of Heywood Civic Centre began just before Christmas 2024 and is set to be completed by Autumn 2025. The multi-million pound scheme is set to deliver major improvements to extend and modernise the venue, which has delivered events in the heart of Heywood for decades. Included in the plan is a glazed frontage onto Peine Square; a new café and bar area; and upgrades to the performance space to boost lighting and sound. Retractable seating in the auditorium to allow flexible use of the space and accessible lifts and toilets are also proposed. Proposals to redevelop Peine Square, just outside the civic centre, are also in the works. These changes include areas with green spaces, a variety of seating, performance spaces and planting. Warwick Mill CGI of how Warwick Mill redevelopment could look upon completion (Image: Rochdale Council/Kam Lei Fong (UK) Ltd) Almost 300 new apartments, restaurant space and a rooftop garden are all part of an approved rejuvenation of the historic cotton mill in Middleton . Warwick Mill has towered over the town that sits between Manchester and Rochdale since 1907 - but has been subject to continuous vandalism after being ravaged by a fire back in 2018. It has been vacant for a number of years, but now the Grade-II listed building will be transformed into 135 apartments with up to 6,500 sq m of commercial ‘floorspace’ up for grabs. Developers Kam Lei Fong (UK) Ltd will also demolish the neighbouring six-storey office block, known as London House, and replace it with a 146 apartment building. Whether work will actually start on this plan is still unknown currently, but planning permission was granted in September.
3 reasons to buy this ASX 200 stock nowKaski, Dec 28: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has said the constitution would be amended with consensus of major political parties. Inaugurating the building of Nanamohan Senior Citizen Day Care Centre constructed at Tuse of Machhapuchhre rural municipality-1 today, Minister Gurung shared that constitution would be reviewed for amendment. Also the Spokesperson of the government, he mentioned, "A high-level political mechanism of two major political parties is formed. Initiating the procedural work for constitution amendment is the first task of this mechanism." He argued that the government had a plan to immediately pass the bills that are under consideration in various committees of the House of Representatives and National Assembly. The Communications Minister further said activities were forwarded to make laws required for province and local levels as well. Stating that establishing a service centre for senior citizens was a laudable initiative, he expressed commitment to providing support from government side for the operation of the centre. "The government is committed to protecting rights of senior citizens", stressed Minister Gurung. On the occasion, the day care centre building, constructed with the financial support of Rs 50 million of a Swiss national, was handed over to Ama Smriti Pratisthan. A local Karna Bahadur Gurung had donated four ropanis of land for the construction of the building in memory of his late mother Nana and father Mohan.(RSS)
Barclays PLC grew its holdings in shares of Comstock Resources, Inc. ( NYSE:CRK – Free Report ) by 256.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 155,614 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after buying an additional 111,934 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned approximately 0.05% of Comstock Resources worth $1,731,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. KGH Ltd raised its holdings in Comstock Resources by 8.7% during the second quarter. KGH Ltd now owns 12,125,000 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $125,858,000 after acquiring an additional 975,000 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Comstock Resources by 26.3% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 11,696,540 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $121,414,000 after purchasing an additional 2,438,252 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in shares of Comstock Resources by 19.0% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,270,435 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $23,567,000 after purchasing an additional 362,043 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Comstock Resources by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,413,820 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $15,736,000 after buying an additional 57,376 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Comstock Resources by 775.4% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 875,371 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $9,086,000 after buying an additional 775,371 shares during the last quarter. 36.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Comstock Resources Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:CRK opened at $17.09 on Friday. Comstock Resources, Inc. has a 12-month low of $7.07 and a 12-month high of $17.79. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $14.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.88. The firm has a market cap of $4.99 billion, a PE ratio of -94.94 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have issued reports on CRK shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Comstock Resources from $10.00 to $11.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, October 4th. Citigroup increased their price target on Comstock Resources from $12.50 to $15.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Mizuho raised shares of Comstock Resources from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $10.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Comstock Resources in a research report on Monday, October 28th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $14.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Comstock Resources from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, September 30th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $11.78. Get Our Latest Report on CRK Insider Activity In other Comstock Resources news, Director Elizabeth B. Davis sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.98, for a total value of $169,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 107,632 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,827,591.36. This trade represents a 8.50 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In the last three months, insiders sold 30,000 shares of company stock worth $489,300. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Comstock Resources ( Free Report ) Comstock Resources, Inc, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of natural gas and oil properties in the United States. Its assets are located in the Haynesville and Bossier shales located in North Louisiana and East Texas. The company was incorporated in 1919 and is headquartered in Frisco, Texas. Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Comstock Resources What is a Dividend Harvesting Strategy and How Can Investors Profit from it? S&P 500 ETFs: Expense Ratios That Can Boost Your Long-Term Gains 3 Grocery Stocks That Can Help Take a Bite Out of Inflation How AI Implementation Could Help MongoDB Roar Back in 2025 What Makes a Stock a Good Dividend Stock? Hedge Funds Boost Oil Positions: Is a Major Rally on the Horizon? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CRK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Comstock Resources, Inc. ( NYSE:CRK – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Comstock Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Comstock Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The USA, the UK, the UAE, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Japan, Egypt, India and more than 70 countries unite at the International M.I.C.E. Summit 2024 in RiyadhAP News Summary at 4:49 p.m. ESTIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday recommended his Cabinet approve a US-brokered ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, signaling potential relief after 14 months of conflict tied to the ongoing Gaza war. Despite growing optimism, intense clashes continued in Lebanon, raising uncertainty over the deal's immediate implementation. Ceasefire details and objectives The proposed agreement outlines a two-month halt in hostilities, requiring Hezbollah to withdraw forces north of Lebanon’s Litani River while Israel returns its troops to the border. Thousands of Lebanese soldiers and UN peacekeepers would oversee enforcement, monitored by a US-led international panel. However, disputes over enforcement mechanisms, particularly Israel’s insistence on responding to violations, pose challenges to finalizing the deal. Netanyahu argued the ceasefire would weaken Hezbollah’s influence, isolate Hamas in Gaza, and shift Israel's focus to Iran. "If Hezbollah breaks the agreement, we will attack with might," he warned in a televised address. Escalation in final hours Hours before the Cabinet meeting, Israel intensified airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting areas with reported Hezbollah activity. Lebanese officials reported 23 deaths, including civilians, in strikes across Beirut, Tyre, and Baalbek. Israeli warnings prompted mass evacuations in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut. Hezbollah responded with rocket barrages into northern Israel, triggering air raid alerts. The Israeli military said ground forces clashed with Hezbollah near the Litani River, claiming to have destroyed key rocket launchers. Regional and political implications The ceasefire could de-escalate tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, whose support for Hamas has fueled fears of wider regional conflict. However, critics, including Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, oppose the deal, calling it a "missed opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah." While the proposal offers a path to ending the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, its impact on the Gaza war remains uncertain. White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby cautioned, “Nothing is done until everything is done.” If implemented, the deal marks a significant step toward regional stability but leaves critical questions about its enforcement and durability unanswered.
The Department of Energy (DOE) is firming up a policy that will reduce the performance bond requirement for offshore wind projects to a leaner five percent, a departure from the typical 20 percent required in green energy auctions (GEA) for other renewable energy (RE) technologies. At a year-end gathering of wind industry leaders, including the Wind Energy Developers Association of the Philippines (WEDAP), Pilipinas Offshore Wind Energy Resource Inc. (POWER), and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara made a game-changing announcement. "The DOE has heeded your suggestion," she stated, "so we went from 20 percent to just five percent for the performance bond." The energy official emphasized that the reduced performance bond will be incorporated into the terms of reference (TOR) for the highly anticipated 5th GEA, a competitive bidding process specifically dedicated to offshore wind projects, to be carried out by the third quarter of next year. The performance bond is critical for firms participating and winning in the RE capacity auction. The bond is forfeited to the government if they fail to meet electricity delivery commitments based on commercial operations date (COD) requirements. This serves as a strong reminder that only serious investors should participate. Depending on whether it involves bottom-fixed or floating offshore wind installations, industry players estimate investment costs could range from $3.0 million to $7.0 million per megawatt. Even with a five percent performance bond, this represents a massive financial burden for offshore wind developers. Project sponsors point out that investment costs can escalate based on a range of factors, from water depth and distance from shore to the complexity of infrastructure deployment and regulatory hurdles, including complicated permitting processes. They believe that technological advancements and economies of scale in project installations may eventually reduce investment costs for future offshore wind ventures. Reaffirming the DOE's commitment to the 5th GEA focused on offshore wind, Guevara emphasized that investors must match the government's resolve with their own firm commitment to invest capital in the industry. “We are now in the thick of preparations for the green energy auction, and we have heard all your suggestions about the performance bond – your favorite topic," she said. "Because we need to ensure commitment from developers, we don’t want fly-by-night investors; so there are a lot of requirements.” Guevara also noted that 16 industry leaders have already submitted project proposals to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as part of their pre-development environmental compliance certificate (pre-dev ECC) application process. She further revealed that one of the pioneer players has already received its pre-development ECC and the warranted certificate of confirmation of commerciality (COCOC), signaling that the project can now proceed to the development cycle.