Gateway to future awaits green light

HOW the new Marks and Spencer store will look

PLANS for a “game changing” regeneration scheme which includes building a Marks & Spencer store at Mumps have been recommended for approval.

Oldham Council’s planning committee will vote tomorrow on whether to give the green light to the proposal for the Prince’s Gate development, which is designed to rejuvenate the area.

In their report to the committee, planning officers have recommended approval for the multi-million pound scheme — which will incorporate retail, financial services, restaurants and drinking establishments — as well as converting the historic Grade II-listed NatWest bank building into a flexible commercial space.

Designs

Proposals also feature either an 80-bed hotel or 36 apartments as well as the long-awaited Marks & Spencer store, associated landscaping, servicing and highway improvement works.

The development could see up to four other retailers on what is currently the Metrolink car park whose spaces will be transferred across the road behind the existing coffee shop.

It also has plans for up to 800 homes and around 700 car-parking spaces overall.

There are designs for a supermarket, 55 apartments and a 250-bay car park at the site of the demolished Roscoe Mill and the RSPCA centre at Rhodes Bank.

The project aims to reach completion by 2018 and is expected to create more than 700 jobs and generate up to £19million a year for the local economy.

The report details how there have been concerns that the redevelopment, on the fringe of the town centre, will potentially take shoppers away from the more central shopping areas.

However, it states that the scheme has been designed to complement the town centre and have a positive impact on retail there.

It is thought that Prince’s Gate will help address the decline of trade in the centre since 2009.

Another concern was the impact of redevelopment on the heritage of the area — most notably the refurbishment of the former bank.

Developers are assured that the refurbishment will be in keeping with the area’s heritage while also bringing old and unused buildings back into use.

The plans — and 130-year wait to bring Marks & Spencer to Oldham — were initially approved by the council’s Cabinet in 2014.