Huge plans for 2,000 new homes in Greater Manchester town centre get major boost

Plans to build up to 2,000 homes in Oldham town centre have been boosted with £3 million of funding.

Oldham council has received the highest amount of money awarded to any of Greater Manchester’s local authorities from the government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund. It will go towards freeing up three key sites in the town centre for new, ‘sustainable homes’ of different types and sizes.

The funding is split across three sites, with the Civic Centre and Queen Elizabeth Hall plot being awarded £1.39m, the former Leisure Centre site, £1.39m and the former Magistrates Court, £370k. The money will be used to prepare the three sites for the construction of the new homes, including site remediation and preparatory works.

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The fund is part of the One Public Estate programme – a £180m fund delivered over three years to help councils across England free up council-owned land for new homes. Council leader Arooj Shah said: “This is fantastic news and goes to show that the Government has faith in our plans for our all-new town centre.

“The money will be vital to help free up the land at these sites for new homes right in the heart of Oldham – alongside a new park, cleaner and greener public spaces, and new developments such as the new theatre, new market and new-look Spindles centre.

“We want to create a better town centre, not just to benefit the people who live here now, but for future generations – creating new communities, leisure opportunities and affordable housing for families.

“These new homes will bring more people into