Next year promises to be a big year for Oldham with a raft of exciting projects set to take major steps forward.
Despite the challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic, infrastructure masterplans for the borough have continued apace.
These include the redevelopment of Spindles Shopping Centre and the relocation of Tommyfield market, as well hundreds of new homes across the town.
Spindles
Town hall chiefs say that the redevelopment of Spindles Town Square will get underway in 2022.
The council bought the Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre last year for £9.5m, and then purchased the lease of the Topman for a further £300k.
Under the plans for the shopping centre Tommyfield Market will move from its existing site on Henshaw Street into a space in Spindles.
The new market will stretch from Town Square through the former TJ Hughes Unit and extend into Parliament Square.
Tommyfield Market - lower level, food court. Photo: AEW Architects.
Bosses say the space will be ‘completely redeveloped’ to provide a ‘purpose-built’ new market.
It will include a retail market, accessed from inside the shopping centre at the mall level, and on the ground floor linked to Parliament Square a new food hall is proposed to be created featuring food and drink from Tommyfield traders.
Chiefs say that planning applications will be submitted in early 2022, and if approved, the demolition of the former TJ Hughes unit will start in spring.
Work will then start on the new market and wider Spindles redevelopment in the summer.
The new-look centre will also include an event space, co-working space for entrepreneurs, a publicly accessible heritage archive and improved shopping areas. The entire redevelopment project is due to be completed in late 2023.
Saddleworth School
In June 2019 planning chiefs ended the decade-long saga of where to build a new high school in the area by agreeing to relocate Saddleworth School from its crumbling building in Uppermill to the Diggle site.
The £19m plans by the Education Funding Agency to relocate the school from its current location in Uppermill to a purpose built new site have been in the pipeline for more than a decade.
And construction on the new school building on the site of the former WH Shaw Pallet Works site in Diggle is due to complete early next year.
Council chiefs say the new Saddleworth School is scheduled to be handed over in February 2022.
The 1,500 pupil school site will include new sports provision including an artificial all-weather pitch which will also be open to the community.
New homes
Oldham council has secured funding to transform two ‘challenging’ brownfield sites into 415 homes.
These are split between a site at London Road and Abbotsford Road in Derker where 150 dwellings will be built.
And a further 265 will be constructed on a brownfield site near Southlink Business Park.
Chiefs say they are aiming to begin work on site in Derker at the end of 2022, and in Southlink soon after.
Both schemes will include a ‘mix’ of affordable housing which will be rented to those in need on the council’s housing register.
Meanwhile at Broadway Green in Chadderton, more than 230 homes have already been constructed while work has begun on the next phase of 160 new properties, some of which will be completed next year.
Building has also begun on a new 370,000 sq ft employment unit at Broadway Green.
At nearby Hollinwood Junction, chiefs are expecting planning applications for 150 new homes on the site of the former Kaskenmoor School to be submitted next year.
And Kellen Homes’ scheme in Royton, which was given planning permission in November, will see 99 homes built on the former Vernon Works.
It will bring forward 99 two, three and four-bedroom homes, including 49 affordable homes – in partnership with Great Places Housing Group – and 50 for open-market-sale. The first new residents will move in in summer 2022.
Union Street Library
The first phase of a major project to restore and reopen Oldham’s historic Old Library has now begun after being granted planning permission.
The work will protect and preserve the Union Street building, which was built in 1883, ready for bringing it back into public use.
The first phase of the works, due for completion in April 2023, will create a safe space which can then be further developed.
Oldham council leader Arooj Shah said: “This important refurbishment work is the start of an exciting new future for the Old Library.
“We know it has a special place in the hearts of many Oldhamers, and we are committed to bringing it back into public use and safeguarding it for future generations.”
The first phase of the works initially focus on the Old Library’s exterior, to prevent further deterioration and structural works to futureproof the building.
There will be a new roof that will also reinstate the original 19th century design for the southern gallery, the external stonework will be cleaned using specialist treatments and, internally, moulds of the existing plaster will be taken for future replication.
Alexandra Park depot
Work to build a new environmentally friendly depot at Alexandra Park has started and is due to complete in winter 2022.
The new depot will provide a modern working space for the council’s environmental services teams.
It is also planned to play an active community role through a range of uses such as spaces for events, education and recreation.
The new energy efficient building – which is the first phase of the authority’s plan to create a sustainable hub at the park – will be heated by air source heat pumps providing more sustainable heat and hot water.
Royton Town Hall
Work has started to transform Royton Town Hall and Library into a multi-use community hub.
Chiefs say that the project will breathe ‘new life’ into the town hall and adjoining Royton Library to create a welcoming, family-friendly venue in the heart of the town.
As well as improving the library area and better community rooms, there will also be space for a local business to launch as part of the plans.
Northern Roots
A masterplan to create a huge urban farm and eco park on land at Snipe Clough in Oldham is also due to progress in 2022.
The 160-acre site runs from the Grade Two listed Alexandra Park, past Park Bridge and down to Daisy Nook country park.
Chiefs say that the first planning applications will be submitted to the authority next year and subject to approval, work will then begin to create a new visitor and learning centre and bike hub and trails facility.
An aerial impression of the proposed visitor centre design at Northern Roots. Photo credit: Northern Roots.
Accessible Oldham
A project to boost Oldham’s accessibility aims to improve streets and roads across the town centre making it easier and more enjoyable to get around – especially for pedestrians and cyclists.
The first phase of the scheme will begin in early 2022 with work on Albion Street and Henshaw Street – improving the highway and creating new rain gardens, seating areas and quality public space.
Accessible Oldham is a four-year project and other phases will create new cycle routes, traffic-free zones and much more across the town centre.
Diagnostic hub
An ‘ambitious’ new centre offering diagnostic tests to identify illnesses such as cancer quicker is to be up and running in Oldham next year.
The council’s planning department has approved proposals to construct a community diagnostic hub on land to the north of Salmon Fields in Royton.
The single-storey building will contain a variety of scanning equipment, including machines to carry out MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds and lung testing.
The centre is one of 40 that are being set up around the country, and bosses say they believe it is one of the most ‘ambitious’ schemes coming forward.
How the diagnostic hub in Oldham would look. Photo: NCA NHS/Day Architectural.
Chiefs say the new facility could mean people can get scanning appointments quicker and consequently begin treatment earlier.
Director of planning and delivery at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, Barney Schofield said: “I think in time the ambition is to diagnose disease at an earlier stage of progression therefore greatly improves the survival chances of patients.”
Councillor Zahid Chauhan, cabinet member for health and social care, added: “As a GP I know first-hand the importance of early diagnosis.
“The pandemic has forced NHS waiting times to a record high – and the new centre will play an important role in addressing this. This site will save lives and we are delighted to have it on our doorstep.”
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