Shopping centre can be revamped
DEVELOPMENT COULD ACCOMMODATE 1,750 JOBS AND GENERATE £83M
PLANS to transform a shopping centre and create a new market and food court can go ahead.
Oldham’s planners have agreed to redevelop Spindles Shopping Centre, which the council purchased in 2020 for £9.5m.
The plans lodged by the local authority will relocate Tommyfield market and create offices in the upper floors for council staff, as well as an events venue, heritage space and food court.
Chris Sinton, the agent for the application, said: “Spindles Town Square has been at the heart of the community for 40 years and these proposals will ensure it remains there for many generations to come.”
He said the development would create new jobs and bring footfall back into the town centre.
The report to the committee states that the development will be able to accommodate 1,750 full time jobs once completed, generating around £83million.
Planning permission was granted for the demolition of the TJ Hughes unit in the shopping centre earlier this year, which will be replaced by the new market.
The replacement unit will extend into Parliament Square, with an entrance created to the new splitlevel market.
Planning officer Graham Dickman said the new market entrance would change the current ‘uninviting’ layout.
“You’ll be able to emerge straight through onto Parliament Square which should be a major enhancement for that area,” he added.
“To bring more life into this area there is obviously an intention to open up those spaces. This is a clearly positive development.”
The works to transform the shopping centre are being ‘partially financed’ from £12m of government Towns Fund grant cash.