Plans to convert the former Barclays bank on Market Street in Oldham town centre into a casino have been approved. The Grade II listed building has been vacant since the branch closed in 2023. One objection raised concerns about 24-hour opening, noise, antisocial behaviour, and impact on the historic building's character. Planning officers found no policy basis to refuse the scheme despite three other adult gaming centres and four betting shops nearby. The casino will be operated by Merkur Slots and internal screening will be non-permanent to protect the building's historic fabric.
More than 15 new electric vehicle charging spaces are set to be installed at a major shopping centre car park in Oldham after plans were approved. An application was submitted earlier this year to develop a total of 16 EV parking spaces at Elk Mill Shopping Park along with lighting, CCTV and infrastructure, including power units and a substation. Now, permission has been given to introduce the new parking spots, which will be based in the eastern part of the car park. Plans show that the 16 EV spaces would replace existing spaces in an area of the car park north of the Starbucks and close to residential properties on Farholme. Please don't make the problem worse': Neighbours' fears over temp
More than 450 objections have been made to a planning application for 68 new affordable homes on Failsworth green belt. The application relates to land off Failsworth Road near Woodhouses village and backing on to the homes on Argyll Park Road. Documents included in the application show plans for terraces, semi-detached and detached houses. Residents of Woodhouses and the surrounding areas have expressed strong objections to the plans. Most of the 471 comments submitted to Oldham's planning portal are copies of a group letter, which details the reason behind the community's objections. The action group has around 330 members online and, last month, they held an in-person meeting attended by
The Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham will soon open its doors for the last time before it permanently closes to the public and is prepared for demolition. Officially opened in 1977 after 15 years of construction, the venue was named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's silver jubilee during a royal visit. Over the decades, it's hosted big name bands from Iron Maiden to The Dubliners, cultural icons like spoken poet John Cooper Clarker, and comedians including Jimmy Carr. Legendary town centre chippy confirms new location 'Key phase' of SportsTown, including netball courts, set to be decided on 'Internationally important' Oldham church mural saved by community What you need to know about local ele
Oldham Council has reviewed a variety of planning applications in the past week, with proposals ranging from residential extensions and solar panel installation to amendments on previous applications and advertising displays. Here is a summary of the latest planning decisions made by. Oldham. Council: 48 Montgomery Street, Oldham OL8 3QA. Application for a non-material amendment to add two ground floor side windows in connection with an earlier approval. Application to discharge conditions covering the demolition method statement and the treatment of exposed surfaces tied to a previous approval. Non-material amendments to external materials and minor window changes for the main house, follow
The SportsTown development could take a major step forward with plans for new netball courts and other infrastructure set to be decided on. An application submitted by SportsTown Ltd will be put before members of Oldham Council's planning committee on Wednesday (April 15), which could pave the way for major works around Boundary Park to get underway. SportsTown is a £70m project based around the Oldham Athletic stadium which will look to develop sports facilities in the borough, along with creating education opportunities to help people gain qualifications while on a sports pathway. The most significant aspect of the application being decided on next week is the proposed development of three
The next phase of the massive regeneration of Oldham town centre is underway, with images showing diggers on site. Construction equipment was spotted recently outside Spindles shopping centre, with a section of the walkway fenced off near the entrance where Costa is. The images also show the newly started construction work at Prince's Gate car park, which has now been closed to the public, and dozens of metal fences have been put up around it. The work is part of the Oldham Council partnership with Muse, which will see 331 new homes built on the site of the car park . The change isn't sudden; the work outside Spindles has been taking place since May 2024, and a permit for the works says it i
A planning application has been submitted to Oldham Council to convert the former Bodycare store in Royton into a nail salon. The store, also known as Graham's, closed on September 5, 2025, after Bodycare appointed administrators from Interpath following funding shortfalls and creditor pressure. The application was submitted by Atif Rauf of Sheet Anchor Investments Ltd. The plans show the retail layout will remain similar with ground floor retail and first floor staff areas. Social media users expressed mixed reactions, with some concerned about existing nail businesses in the precinct while others welcomed any new business to prevent boarded-up shops.
Many UK supermarkets have warned customers of store closures over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Government rules mean stores across England and Wales larger than 280 square metres are forced to close on Easter Sunday. Most shops will remain open on Good Friday and Easter Monday, both of which are bank holidays. But to avoid any confusion this weekend, these are the opening times of the majority of supermarkets in England and Wales across the Easter holiday weekend. Opening hours at Aldi may vary depending on store location, but these are the opening hours for the majority of stores across England and Wales this weekend. Bank Holiday Monday, April 6-8am to 8pm You can check the opening hou
Construction has officially started on the £32 million Prince's Gate housing development in Oldham town centre. The project will deliver 331 flats, including 75 affordable homes partly funded by council Right-to-Buy capital receipts. The development is backed by £31.5 million from GMCA's Good Growth Funding plus additional government funding. Phase 1 will deliver the 75 affordable homes, followed by Phase 2 with 256 build-to-rent homes. The council delegated contractor selection to senior officials rather than holding a public cabinet meeting. The development is part of wider town centre regeneration efforts to create a more vibrant and inclusive place for businesses and communities.
Oldham's new indoor market opened over the weekend alongside The Loom, a flexible event space that can accommodate up to 1,000 standing or 500 dining. The venue, named after Oldham's cotton-spinning heritage, features three bar areas, reception space, and conference facilities. It will host conferences, weddings, exhibitions, and concerts, replacing the Queen Elizabeth Hall which is set for demolition to make way for 800 new homes. Online bookings are now open, though no events are currently listed. The venue had its VIP launch on March 27 with a performance by Oldham Theatre Workshop.
Oldham Council has validated several planning applications in the past week. These include a two-storey rear extension at 19 Rutland Street, padel sports courts at Marlborough Street Community Centre, a new dwelling on Ashton Road in Woodhouses, and conversion of first-floor office space at 100 Main Road to a residential flat. The applications cover residential, leisure, and commercial-to-residential developments across different parts of Oldham.
Marlborough Street Community Centre in Oldham has submitted plans to Oldham Council for three new padel courts in its car park. The proposal includes two double courts and one single court, all with rain canopies and wire meshing above glass walls. Padel Republic Oldham Ltd, incorporated February 16, 2026, is the applicant. The application was validated March 26 and will be decided by May 21. The centre, formerly the Pakistani Community Centre, was refurbished by Oldham Council after closing due to health and safety concerns.
Chadderton has been awarded £20 million through the government's Pride in Place scheme to fund a decade-long regeneration programme. The first four years will focus on business and community grants, new CCTV, upgraded crossings, and restoring historic Foxdenton Hall. The project was developed by the Chadderton Neighbourhood Board through community workshops and surveys. Council leader Arooj Shah said the investment shows confidence in Oldham, while MP Jim McMahon welcomed the community-led approach. The board, chaired by Action Together's Laura Windsor-Welsh, will continue gathering public feedback via email.
March has been a month where some major planning decisions have been made in Oldham. Vacant sites will be brought back into use, a takeaway can be opened under a "wacky" condition and a divisive HMO is set to take shape. The Oldham Times has rounded up some of the most significant planning decisions made during the month. Takeaway approved after 'wacky' suggestion A new takeaway can open in Oldham town centre, but only temporarily, following a "wacky" suggestion at a planning committee meeting. Councillors on the committee met to discuss a proposed takeaway on Silver Street, which had raised concerns over potential parking and traffic issues. The takeaway will be erected on Silver Street (Im
Housebuilder Redrow has unveiled a new 'view home' at its Bishop Meadows development between Royton and Shaw. The four-bedroom Windsor property is fully styled and allows potential buyers to explore layouts, finishes, and energy-efficient features. The development will eventually include more than 200 homes, five acres of green space, and an orchard. A Windsor property is currently available to reserve for £435,000. Redrow offers a Key Worker Deposit Contribution scheme providing up to £25,000 and a Movemaker scheme to help with selling existing properties.
The Department for Education has formally agreed Heads of Terms for the Eton Star Oldham school at the former Tommyfield Market site, with building work scheduled to begin next year. The partnership between Eton College and Star Academies aims to provide high-quality education for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Oldham. Council leader Arooj Shah described the project as 'fantastic news' that will raise aspirations and open doors for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The school will offer post-16 education optimised for disadvantaged students with academic talent, with a mission to help many secure places at world-class universities. The project has faced opposition from local councillors and the National Education Union, which called it a 'marketing ploy' that would harm existing sixth form provision.
A former nursery near Oldham town centre is set to become a house in multiple occupation (HMO) after a planning application was approved. Last year, plans were submitted to convert the former Alphabet House on Henshaw Street, which operated as a nursery for many years, into shared housing. The building is currently derelict and has been for a few years, with the application looking to bring the site back into use. Now, the proposal has been approved after it was determined the proposal would not have a harmful impact on the character of the area. Planning documents show that the ground floor will not be used as part of the HMO, but will instead be retained for employment use. A proposed layo
The government has approved £20 million for Chadderton's Pride in Place regeneration project, marking the start of a decade-long renewal plan. Local residents will lead the transformation through the Chadderton Neighbourhood Board, which has been gathering community input via workshops and surveys. The first four years will focus on supporting local businesses, improving safety with new CCTV, enhancing public spaces, restoring Foxdenton Hall, and investing in youth provision. The project aims to make Chadderton better for everyone by improving streets, parks, cultural spaces, and historic buildings. An additional £20 million will go to the Alt neighbourhood as part of the same government strategy.
Plans are advancing for three new tower blocks with 331 apartments at Prince's Gate in Oldham Mumps. The development includes 75 affordable homes funded partly by council Right-to-Buy receipts, plus shops and green spaces. Backed by £31.5m from GMCA's Good Growth Funding and government money, the council is finalising a grant agreement with developer Muse. Due to the pre-election period, final contractor decisions will be delegated to council executives rather than public cabinet meetings. The project follows two previous failed schemes after M&S and Lidl withdrew from building shops and a hotel on the site.