Oldham tables Spindles revamp proposals
The council’s proposed overhaul of the 450,000 sq ft retail complex has taken a step forward with the submission of a planning application.
Oldham Council bought Spindles Town Square shopping centre for £9.5m in 2020 with the intention of creating a mixed-use scheme featuring a trimmed down and refreshed retail offer and a new home for Tommyfield Market.
Spindles has a vacancy rate of around 30%, prompting the council’s decision to convert some of the existing retail space into other uses.
These include:
- 75,000 sq ft of offices providing modern accommodation for council staff, as well as co-working space
- A new 50,000 sq ft market on the site of the former TJ Hughes, which is to be demolished
- A 33,000 sq ft event space
- A 12,000 sq ft museum archive space.
The Spindles project, designed by Aew Architects, also has wider implications for Oldham town centre. Once the Tommyfield Market is relocated to Spindles, the former site off Albion Street is to be redeveloped into a town centre park.
TJ Hughes will be demolished to make way for a new market hall. Credit: AEW Architects
CBRE is the planning consultant for the Spindles project, which, if approved, could begin later this year. Willmott Dixon has already been appointed as main contractor.
The Spindles revamp could complete before the end of 2023, the council said.
“We’re kickstarting a huge investment in Oldham that will create quality jobs for Oldhamers and new opportunities for our local businesses,” said Cllr Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council.
“The revamped centre is going to make a huge difference to our town centre, along with lots of other brilliant projects like the new Jubilee Park, new theatre, restored Old Library and the development of a hotel and supermarket at Prince’s Gate. The future of Oldham is looking really positive and we’re working hard to create a town centre we can all be proud of.”
To learn more about the plans enter reference number FUL/348415/22 into Oldham Council’s planning portal.
