EXCLUSIVE: Ambitious town centre redevelopment plans revealed

Oldham Town Centre Masterplan. Shows how the town could change under the plans..

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AMBITIOUS plans to transform the town centre and redevelop five key sites have been revealed by Oldham Council.

The town centre masterplan, which looks ahead to 2035, seeks to remodel the town centre and match the local authority's aspirations for it to be a vibrant place where residents want to live and spend leisure time.

The local authority has identified a large number of publicly-owned sites that are described as "under-used or no longer fit for purpose", including Tommyfield Market, the Civic Centre, Oldham Police Station, the former Oldham Sports Centre and Oldham Magistrates Court sites, and the current Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

Included in the masterplan proposals, described as the "biggest forward planning exercise we've ever had for Oldham town centre" by Council Leader Jean Stretton are:

- Closure of the current civic centre and the creation of a new multi agency public sector Civic Hub at the former Oldham Sports Centre site.

- Refurbishment of the Queen Elizabeth Hall and a new neighbouring hotel built.

- A brand new Tommyfield Market constructed on the existing site, including a new 600-capacity multi-storey car park, complementary new retail or leisure units and quality public spaces.

- New residential areas at the current Civic Centre, former Oldham Magistrates Court and Oldham Police Station sites as well as an additional site at the current Rock Street car park area.

- 55,000 sq metres of new and refurbished employment space, including the current civic centre tower block and commercial offices on Lord Street.

- Creation of an estimated 560 full-time jobs during construction, plus up to 700 new operational jobs in Oldham, if all elements are delivered.

- Economic activity worth an additional £50m per annum to Oldham's economy.

Subject to Cabinet approval on July 10, work would begin to present the opportunities to market and share risks/costs with the private sector.

It will also be the subject of a wide-ranging public consultation over the next 12 months with a range of 'drop in' events in Oldham town centre and beyond.

For full details of the proposals see tonight's Oldham Chronicle.