Former DWP building in Oldham could be turned into flats
The former DWP building in Oldham, Phoenix House, is set to be converted into over 80 flats by London-based developers A & S Mayfair Limited, pending approval from Oldham Council. The closure of the DWP office in 2022 was described as 'devastating' by local MP Jim McMahon. The proposed renovation includes transforming seven of the eight floors into apartments, while retaining the ground floor for office or retail use.
Phoenix House, the former Department for Work and Pensions office that has stood empty on Union Street since 2022, could soon become home to 82 new apartments.
London-based A & S Mayfair Limited has submitted plans to transform the eight-storey building, which the Conservative government shuttered two years ago in a move local MP Jim McMahon condemned as “devastating” for job losses and support services in Oldham.
Nick Carroll Architects’ proposals show seven floors converted into one- and two-bedroom flats ranging from 40 to 100 square metres, each featuring open-plan kitchen-living areas. The ground floor would remain available for office or retail use under ‘class E’ planning rules.
The building, which sits adjacent to Oldham Central tram station and currently offers just eight parking spaces, has remained vacant since the DWP closure eliminated dozens of local positions. Oldham Council is now reviewing the change-of-use application submitted through its planning portal.
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