Oldham training centre to become retail store after approval

The Oldham Training Centre on Lees Road, which trained apprentices in engineering and business courses for decades, is being converted into a retail store after planners approved the change of use. The centre, which served students across Greater Manchester, closed because declining enrolments and partnerships made it unsustainable, according to developers' planning documents.

The new plans will transform the former educational facility into a retail space with the front of the building becoming a shop floor and the rear providing storage. An external cold storage unit and canopy will be added at the back of the building. Inside, developers will remove internal walls on both floors to create a more open layout, with the first floor set to contain several office spaces.

The specific type of retail use hasn't been confirmed yet, though the inclusion of cold storage suggests it could be a food-related business. The centre had been closed for at least 17 weeks before the planning application was submitted, according to a recent Google review. The change marks the end of an era for vocational training in the area, as the site had been a hub for apprentices completing mandatory study hours required by apprenticeship law.

Local residents and businesses will likely see changes to traffic patterns on Lees Road as the retail operation begins. The loss of the training centre removes a local educational resource that had served the community for generations, potentially affecting employment opportunities for young people seeking apprenticeships in engineering and business services.