Hooray for Hollinwood

MARKING the start of regeneration plans . . . the gas holder in Hollinwood is to be demolished to make way for a new development

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A BUMPER £35million project is set to create 760 jobs and regenerate a derelict 30-acre site at Hollinwood Junction with retail, leisure, employment space and housing.

Oldham Council and developer Langtree have signed a deal to bring forward the project, which will also see the demolition of a large redundant gas holder on the site, close to the M60 junction. A planning application for the infrastructure and the first plots is expected to be submitted before the end of the year following consultation with local residents and businesses.

If successful, work on site is expected to start early in the new year.

When fully developed the project will provide new employment space, community leisure and retail and up to 150 family homes.

Neal Biddle, development director at Langtree, said: "We will shortly submit our first planning application and a deal with an occupier is very near completion.

"This is a key gateway to Oldham town centre benefitting from direct access to the M60 and is a key employment site for the borough.

"Occupier interest is strong and we expect to be announcing our first deal before the end of summer."

Earlier this year Oldham Council outlined plans to acquire the 1.78acre Albert Street gas holder site from owners National Grid Property Holdings after the redundant construction was identified as preventing progress on future development.

The 165ft construction in Albert Street was the largest in the country when it was built in 1913, however it has been out of use since 2009, with the owners not scheduled to take it down until 2023.

Negotiations with National Grid are nearing completion for its removal after years of discussions by Oldham Council in order to create a cleared site and unlock its development potential

Oldham Council leader Jean Stretton said: "I'm delighted to take forward our development partnership with Langtree.

"Not only will it finally bring about the regeneration of the site on Albert Street and adjoining sites, it will also generate vital revenue from the New Homes Bonus, business rates and council tax that we can invest in local services and provide much-needed new family homes as well as jobs for local people.

"This site has long had great development potential with great transport links which could make it a regionally important employment zone at a major gateway. It's exciting to now be getting on with the job."

Construction expenditure alone is estimated to be £30m, with 100 direct jobs during construction and a further 20 in the local supply chain.

Up to 760 gross operational jobs ­- including those generated through local expenditure - are forecast to be created.

Work had been expected to start on the development as early as 2013 after proposals for a mixed-used development on the site were revealed.