Willmott Dixon starts first £28m phase at Prince’s Gate
Oldham’s long-awaited gateway project is now on site, with Muse and the council’s appointed contractor beginning work on an initial 75 affordable homes.
Phase one of Prince’s Gate will see Block C delivered over six floors on the former Prince Street car park, adjacent to the Mumps Metrolink stop.
It was confirmed late last year that Prince’s Gate would be a beneficiary of Greater Manchester’s Good Growth Fund, with £31.5m committed by the combined authority to getting the project delivered. In all, 331 homes are expected in three phases.
Prince’s Gate has long been a priority for Oldham, with retail originally having been a principal driver for the critical gateway site. M&S pulled out of the project in 2016, after which Lidl was lined up to anchor a mixed-use scheme – however, the grocer could not fulfil a condition of bringing a hotel partner in, and the deal foundered in early 2023.
The site was then wrapped into the suite of projects being taken forward by Muse’s partnership with Oldham Council.
Willmott Dixon, which has its regional office in the town, said it will work with Oldham students, offering work experience and T Level industry placements, and will support local SMEs and third sector organisations.
Phase one is scheduled for completion in summer 2028.
Anthony Dillon, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “As an Oldham-based business, we are proud to continue helping to shape Oldham Town Centre and play our part in the town’s exciting future in partnership with Muse and Oldham Council.
“We share Muse and Oldham Council’s passion for ensuring this landmark project will create opportunities for Oldham people, and with work now underway, we’re looking forward to working with our local supply chain partners on this transformational project.”
Alex Vogel, senior development manager at Muse, said: “Working with highly experienced and locally based private sector partners like Willmott Dixon is a fantastic example of the way that the partnership is trying to enable local residents and businesses to play an active role in improving their community.”
Emma Barton, deputy chief executive (place) at Oldham Council, said: “The start of main construction at Prince’s Gate is a significant milestone for Oldham and another important step in delivering our long-term vision for the town centre.
“Delivering high-quality new homes in this location will help us to meet the needs of people in Oldham and create a future for Oldham that we can all be proud to share.”
Willmott Dixon is also on site delivering 81 net zero homes at Station Gardens in Rochdale – another brownfield gateway site beside a railway station – and 82 homes at the £24m Hough Top scheme in Leeds. The firm also delivered the 242-home Upperbanks BTR scheme in Rochdale town centre.
Honestly..this is a really poor gateway building. It looks like any generic tat that has been built in the last 60 years. They should have done something ultra futuristic or something that looked like an old mill (complete with fenestration). This will add absolutely zero to the streetscape.
By Heritage Action
Better than what’s there
By Anonymous