A landmark 19th-century manor in Rochdale has been overhauled to create homes for former service personnel alongside a new community café, with the build now complete.

The council-led scheme has converted Denehurst House, in Denehurst Park, into 5 purpose-built apartments for ex-armed forces members, a ground-floor café and a Changing Places toilet facility.

With the refurbishment complete, partner organisation Groundwork will shortly invite expressions of interest from businesses to operate the café, while the council works towards welcoming veterans into the apartments at a later date.

Original architectural details, including ornate coving and bay windows, have been carefully restored. The project was delivered for the council by local contractor H Bell and Sons.

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Denehurst House dates back to the 1890s, when it was built for Alderman Robert Turner, founder of Turner Brothers Asbestos. The property originally sat within landscaped grounds, featuring a carriage turning circle and an ornamental fountain.

Gifted to the town in 1932, the house later served as council offices but had stood empty for several years before this latest phase of investment.

Seeking a sustainable future for the historic site, the council developed the concept of veterans’ accommodation alongside a community facility, and councillors recently visited to see the completed works.

A public consultation will follow as part of the Charity Commission process required to enable use of the building for veterans’ housing.

Council leader, Councillor Neil Emmott, said: "These types of projects; providing high quality, affordable homes for veterans, bringing our history back to life and creating local businesses and jobs, are exactly the kind of things we are proud to invest in and support as a council. Our teams have worked hard with partners to get to this point and I can't wait to see veterans moving in and a thriving new business opening in the coming months."