cultural quarter, oldham council, p oldham council

Plans for the cultural quarter include an events and performance space. Credit: via Oldham Council

Oldham backs cultural quarter public realm improvements

Plans focus on the existing community garden outside Oldham Library and Gallery Oldham. This garden will be replaced due to the inevitable damage it will incur as a result of construction work at the Oldham Old Library and Old Post Office buildings off Union Street.

Public realm enhancements will see the creation of an open flexible space off Southgate Street, which will become the heart of the growing cultural quarter. The space will be used as an outdoor venue for events and performances with the capacity to hold up to 150 people.

There will also be improved pedestrian and vehicular access to the town’s growing cultural arena.

Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “While there’s so much to be proud of in Oldham’s past, we have a lot to be excited for in the future, and this new addition to our town centre will be one of them.

“The changes will come at the perfect time, as lots more people will be coming into town to shop in the new home for Tommyfield Market, attend an event in the new events space, and watch shows at the new theatre.”

As part of the town’s cultural quarter development, Oldham submitted plans for the second phase of the Old Library’s refurbishment to provide a series of meeting rooms, a council chamber, an art gallery, and a theatre.

Work on the first phase, which saw contractor Tilbury Douglas repair and restore the structure of the building, began last year.

Along the road at 84 Union Street, the Old Post Office building is also set to be refurbished to deliver a new theatre, following cabinet approval in February.

With such projects under construction, work on the public realm will be phased.

The flexible space will be delivered as part of the second phase of the Old Library’s restoration, set to finish in 2025. Remaining works along Ashworth Street, Greaves Street, and opposite the Old Post Office will begin once the new theatre is complete in 2026.

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