A partnership with a private developer for thousands of new town centre homes will bring ‘millions’ in investment to Oldham, leaders say.
Oldham’s cabinet has agreed to appoint a preferred bidder to become the authority’s private sector partner for an initial period of 15 years, with an option to extend for a further decade.
The partner – who has not yet been named publicly – will progress development of ‘strategic’ residential sites along with the council, to establish a housing market in the centre of Oldham.
The local authority is planning to build up to 2,000 homes in the town centre as part of its wider regeneration plans. The demolition of the council headquarters at the Civic Centre and Queen Elizabeth Hall are included under the masterplan.
Council leader Arooj Shah told members they began a process to select a preferred bidder back in early 2022 when she was first leading the town hall.
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“I’m delighted to be able to report to the cabinet that this process is almost complete. The council has gone through a really vigorous process of due diligence and has narrowed this down from five bidders to two final bidders,” Councillor Shah said.
“We’re not yet in a position to name the preferred bidder but what I can say is that after members of the cabinet have reviewed both submissions this is a massively massively exciting opportunity for Oldham.
“I know residents have told us that they’re frustrated with the perceived lack of delivery on our ambitious regeneration plans but with many projects now in delivery this decision will provide a huge step forward bringing out aspirations for the town centre homes to come to life.
“I do think we’re on the right track and I think this is an important step on the way. The target is to deliver 2,000 new homes in the town centre by releasing some of the council’s own brownfield sites to provide that much needed variety of new homes for our residents and help meet our housing demands that are set by the government.
“Over time I think that this community is going to help boost footfall and spending in the town centre. It will increase the council tax receipts which will benefit the council financially and it will bring life back into key sites in the town centre and hopefully give people the hope and aspiration.
“This partnership will bring millions of pounds of investment to Oldham with social value and wide opportunities for our communities embedded in that.
“It’s actually a really really exciting moment for Oldham and I’m really glad that I’m here to oversee it and we can’t wait to share more in the near future.”
Coun Abdul Jabbar, cabinet member for finance, low carbon, and deputy leader added he was ‘genuinely very excited’ by the agreement.
“I think this is a landmark report where we decide who our private sector partner is,” he added. “It will help us to deliver what we’ve been promising the residents of Oldham for some time.
“I’m thinking about the £150m Greater Manchester Brownfield housing fund that we can access to deliver these homes. I’m really excited about the opportunity for us to deliver the net zero strategy on this project so not just in housing but also in commercial units.
“I think it will genuinely transform our town centre and improve our housing, leisure cultural and shopping offer in the town centre.”
