14 Dec 2020
Oldham Town Deal Board has submitted plans to secure £41 million funding as part of the Government’s Towns Fund.
The Board, made up of representatives from across the public and private sectors, has developed the Town Investment Plan.
By focussing on five ambitious projects, it will accelerate change across the town centre.
The projects are:
In keeping with Oldham Council’s sustainability ambitions, most of the projects will be reusing and repurposing existing buildings (rather than building new), thereby minimising the carbon footprint of redevelopment and placing green recovery and clean growth principles at the heart of town centre revitalisation.
Peter Holbrook CBE, Chair of the Oldham Town Deal Board and Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK, said: “The Town Investment Plan demonstrates that there is no shortage of ambition and aspiration in Oldham.
“The Town Deal Board formed last year, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and our aim was always for Oldham to be a place where business and enterprise can thrive and where people will want to live, visit, relax and work.
“The pandemic has underlined the importance of this vision and the projects identified will be crucial in helping the borough to rebuild and recover.”
The Town Deal Board meets regularly - and has been meeting virtually during the coronavirus pandemic - to develop Oldham’s Town Investment Plan and brings together a very diverse range of key stakeholders and perspectives.
The Towns Fund is a £3.6 billion government fund which aims to support regeneration projects in towns which have a proud industrial and economic heritage but have not always benefited from economic growth in the same way as more prosperous areas.
Oldham is among the 101 towns selected to submit a bid. The TIP will be followed by a detailed business plan for the projects.
Cllr Sean Fielding, Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise, said: “The Towns Fund is all about levelling up places like Oldham. The pandemic has widened this gap so this national investment will make a real difference to creating jobs, opportunities and growth when it’s needed more than ever.
“We’ve identified some really exciting projects which will put Oldham on the map and pave the way for a brighter future for our town.”
For more information visit www.oldham.gov.uk/towndeal
Jessica Beckett
jessica.beckett@oldham.gov.uk