Regeneration news

Oldham's Hollinwood Junction gained a new Lidl on 3 December 2025, the first fresh food store to serve the junction since the old Kwik Save closed fifteen years ago. Drivers on the A62 can now pick up groceries without diverting into the town centre, easing pressure on the Tesco Extra at Elk Mill.

The council's wider 'Building a Better Oldham' plan moved forward on 18 July when members agreed to hand the keys of the Grade-II-listed Old Library back to the public. Empty since 2015, the 1883 building will reopen in phases, starting with a ground-floor exhibition space run by Gallery Oldham and a co-working floor aimed at digital start-ups.

At the 24 June Town Centre Forum, officers revealed the next wave of projects: a new bus interchange sited between the existing Metro stop and the former Spindles car park, a 65-home apartment block on the old magistrates' court plot, and a £3.4 million facelift for Yorkshire Street's shop fronts. No compulsory purchase orders have been served, but landlords have until 30 September to accept 60% grants for new signage, lighting and disabled access.

March's exhibition inside Gallery Oldham showed residents the first interior shots of the Old Library after asbestos removal. Original oak shelving has been saved, while the 1970s mezzanine that blocked the stained-glass dome has been taken out. Opening hours are still pencilled for spring 2026, but no tenant has yet been confirmed for the basement café unit.