Major new planning applications submitted to council

Six major projects could transform the way Oldham town centre looks forever, including turning part of the town hall into a hotel.

Long-awaited planning applications for six huge developments landed on the council’s planning desk on Thursday (April 10). 

The plans include major changes to Oldham’s Civic Tower, the Civic Centre and its brutalistic theatre, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Manchester Chambers, the former leisure centre, the demolished Magistrates Courts and a car park at Prince’s Gate. 

The plans are part of the ‘Oldham Town Regeneration project’, a 15-year partnership between Oldham Council and ‘urban developers’ Muse. The project aims to bring 2,000 new homes into Oldham town, alongside re-shaping the retail experience by bringing residents and shops closer together. 

The plans include a ‘change of use’ application to turn the council’s ‘iconic’ Civic tower – a 15-storey building presiding over the town’s skyline – into a hotel.

And the Manchester Chambers, a dilapidated Victorian building complex near Oldham’s central bus stop, will be partially demolished and replaced with new commercial space. 

The remaining sites will be turned into apartment blocks with ground floors reserved for shops and businesses. 

Councillor Arooj Shah, Oldham Council’s boss, said the submission was an ‘exciting moment’ for Oldham. 

Shah said: “This is a really exciting step forward. People need good homes and the town centre needs people to use all of the amazing things it has to offer now and what we’re building in the future. 

“When this is complete we will have created one of the most exciting neighbourhoods in the North which is something we can all take pride in.”

Alex Vogel, Senior Development Manager at Muse, said: “The submission of these planning applications marks a major step forward in delivering our vision for Oldham town centre. 

“We’re committed to working in partnership with Oldham Council to transform the town centre into a place that people want to live, work, and visit.” 
He noted that the public consultation held in November last year had helped shape the applications.