The exciting new plans for Oldham's Coliseum company - just five months after venue was forced to close

Plans for a new home for Oldham’s Coliseum Theatre have been lodged – five months after the iconic venue closed.

A passionate campaign to save the historic venue on Fairbottom Street was unsuccessful, and it shut to the public for the final time on March 31, leaving the theatre company without a physical home to stage productions.

It followed a decision by Arts Council England (ACE) in November last year to drop the Coliseum from its funding portfolio for the next three years after the body deemed it ‘high risk’, raising concerns about its’ financial management, leadership and governance.

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The funding cut – which was a third of the income for the Coliseum – meant the financial situation was ‘not sustainable for the current continuation of the business’, theatre chiefs said.

In February council bosses agreed to ‘recommit’ to the development of a replacement new theatre in the borough at a cost of £24.5m – but the venue wouldn’t open until 2026.

Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd, with a new board which formed following the theatre’s closure, is to be the new ‘anchor’ tenant of the building on Greaves Street, which faces onto Union Street.

A planning application has now been submitted by Oldham council for the development, which will see the conversion and refurbishment of the Grade-Two listed former post office and Quaker meeting house, demolition of former museum building and construction of a central new building.

As well as theatre facilities it would also include office space, community and education areas and a café and bar.

The former Fairbottom Street theatre had been deemed ‘beyond its expected lifespan’ and a survey carried out in