Plans revealed to open a snooker hall inside former Chronicle headquarters

The former Chronicle headquarters on Union Street

Planning officers have granted permission for a snooker hall to be created inside the Chronicle's former headquarters on Union Street in Oldham town centre.

A planning application was previously submitted to Oldham council, seeking permission to develop the snooker lounge on the upper ground floor and part of the first floor.

Three years ago, plans were then submitted to transform the building into a block of 40 flats with space for bars, restaurants and a gym.

However, those plans were withdrawn, and now permission has been granted for the building to be brought back into use.

The snooker hall would be allowed to operate between the hours of 12pm and 2am, seven days a week.

The use of the iconic building is currently listed as 'offices' and in an application report prepared by planning officer for Oldham Council Matthew Taylor, the proposed use was deemed to be "within the same use class as the existing use".

That means that formal planning permission isn't required and plans can go ahead.

The building is currently standing empty after it was bought for £400,000 in 2018.

The former Chronicle daily print newspaper closed suddenly on August 31, 2017, with all staff being made redundant.

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