Run-down old shops in a neglected part of Rochdale town centre could be given a face-lift.
A dozen historic buildings, many more than 200 years-old, could be renovated as part of a £500,000 project to breathe new life into the town centre.
A planning application has been submitted to carry out repairs and improvements on the shops on the corner of Drake Street and South Parade, which include takeaways, a mini-market, an estate agents and a food bank.
The plans have been unveiled as part of Rochdale's Heritage Action Zone project.
In 2018 Rochdale became the only area in the North West to be granted the status, with the £500,000 project set to bring a number of historic buildings around the town centre back into use as either housing or businesses
For much of the 19th and 20th Century Drake Street was Rochdale's main shopping area.
But over the last 30-40 years many of the buildings have fallen into disrepair as most of Rochdale's large shops moved first to the area around Yorkshire Street and latterly to the new Riverside development.
Documents submitted with the planning application state: "Though once a bustling commercial area of Rochdale, the buildings along Drake Street and South Parade suffer from poor condition, inappropriate mid- to late 20th century and 21st century alterations, transient retail uses and vacancy.
"The buildings along the south-western corner of the intersection of Drake Street and South Parade were constructed as plain 19th century brick buildings with slate roofs and stone lintels, possibly purpose-built as shops with accommodation on the first and second floors or converted from residential houses
"These buildings have 'suffered some mutilation', as a number of the windows have been replaced, altered or infilled, chimneys, flagged roofing and historic shopfronts have been removed, and the front elevations faced with render or pain."
Speaking last year Coun John Blundell, cabinet member for regeneration, business, skills and employment, told how a key part of the Heritage Action Zone project was encouraging more people to live in the town centre.
He told the Manchester Evening News : "Drake Street has been struggling for years, and the answer to that is to have more residential properties.
"Yes, we want to look after heritage assets but you have to do something with them.
"The town centre isn’t a museum, these things have to be used."
