Oldham Council applies for Levelling Up funding to regenerate area

Oldham Council has applied for £40m worth of government Levelling Up funding to support major regeneration projects around the area.

Through two separate bids for £20m councillors hope they will receive grants to boost employment opportunities, connectivity, sustainability and culture in the borough.

The council is also working on a huge regeneration scheme in the town centre, encompassing eight council-owned sites, including Oldham Civic Centre.

Oldham Council Leader Amanda Chadderton said: ‘Oldham has so much potential and as a council we will do everything in our power to help our borough thrive.

‘Towns like ours have been hit hardest by austerity, the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Despite this we remain one of the most entrepreneurial towns in the UK.

‘We have a clear direction for Oldham and have identified exciting projects as part of our Levelling Up bids which will help us to build a better borough and future.

‘This is a real chance for Government to prove they are serious about spreading opportunity more equally across the UK and we look forward to hearing the results of our application.’

In Oldham East and Saddleworth funding would go towards three key projects part of the council’s Green New Deal commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.

This includes:

• The building of the Green Shoots Centre, a business centre supporting environment technology start-ups.
• The creation of Northern Roots Learning Centre, a proposed education facility based at the UK’s largest urban farm Northern Roots. This would provide training in green skills and vocational courses, supporting the Green Shoots Centre.
• Thee Oldham Greenway, a walking and cycling route connecting the Green Shoots centre, new town centre, Jubilee Park and eco-park Northern Roots together.

The bid for the Oldham West and Royton constituency will support the creative industries and build new events space.

Proposals include:

• Refurbishments of the Lyceum Theatre and Masonic Hall to create workspace for creative industries.
• Funding to re-open the Old Library with new gallery space and workshops for people in the creative industries. A garden area will also be developed between the Old Library, Gallery Oldham and a new theatre.
• Flexible events space will also be created in Spindles Town Square.

Oldham Council has already been successful in its bids for grants from the Towns Fund and Future High Streets Fund making up £24.4m and £10.7m in funding respectively.

Photo of Northern Roots by Oldham Council