Oldham invites developer interest in Spindles
Following its acquisition of the 450,000 sq ft shopping centre last year, the council is starting to talk to prospective delivery partners to map out redevelopment options for the site.
Oldham Council purchased Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre in October to “kickstart” the town’s planned £306m regeneration, according to council leader Sean Fielding.
The acquisition of Spindles, from investor Kennedy Wilson, is part of the council’s move to unlock brownfield sites to bring forward up to 2,500 homes and employment space under a 10-year strategy called Creating a Better Place.
The local authority has launched a ‘soft market testing’ exercise, giving prospective developer partners the chance to outline how they would approach delivering the project.
A key element of the project will be the relocation of Tommyfield Market, currently located on Henshaw Street, into the shopping centre.
Office space and a linear park stretching from the existing Tommyfield Market site to the former Sports Centre site also feature in the council’s early-stage proposals.
The council has requested £41m from the Government to support its town centre vision
Cllr Sean Fielding, leader of Oldham Council, said: “This is an important step in engaging with the development industry and helping us to get a better understanding of how we could take the redevelopment forward.
“This is an opportunity to demonstrate your interest in being part of a groundbreaking project that will change the face of Oldham and pave the way for a better future for our residents, businesses and visitors.”
Oldham Council is seeking £41m from the Government to support the regeneration and other projects including Northern Roots, a proposed 160-acre urban farm on holdings including Alexandra Park close to the town centre.
They`ve got a mountain to climb. I wish them luck.
By Anonymous
They have done a good job with the public realm in Oldham. The town is clean, the buildings have been sensitively restored. The Metrolink has given life to the streets. They have a long way to go but Sean Fielding is an outstanding local leader.It is hard to revive towns like Oldham but he has a vision.
By Elephant
@Elephant.
Very true, it’s beginning to look clean and characterful, as is Rochdale Town Centre.
Looks like the Metrolink isn’t so bad after all.
By Anonymous
Oldham used to be a thriving town but the best thing about it now is the tram out of there.
This council hasnt learnt a jot.
Theve tried building flats in the town center before they are all empty.
Rochdale however is definately on the way up and 15 min by train from Manchester.
Oldham is an hour away by tram far from a commuters dream.
By Oldham15
I go into Oldham every day for college, and the centre has really cleaned it’s act up recently. The spindles is an iffy one, it’s not a dying shopping centre like the others because it’s right in the middle of Oldham, it’s got fantastic foot traffic. But entire wings of it are now empty, like where TJ Hughes used to be, so there’s potential to redevelop that big for the market relocation. Dunno if it’ll happen mind you, but it’s on the up
By Anonymous
Great work Sean fielding
By Anonymous