Big plans to make mill top wedding venue

AWAITING APPROVAL . . . Ahmed Ali outside Oldham’s Anchor Mill

A GRADE II-listed former cotton mill could soon be hearing the sound of wedding bells as it bids to become Oldham’s top wedding venue.

Anchor Mill, in Daisy Street, is currently having its first floor transformed to cater for up to 1,500 wedding guests.

White Pearl Properties (WPP), an eight-strong group of local businessmen, own the mill, which was built in 1881.

They are in the process of breathing new life into the five-floor venue with shops on the ground floor and space to rent on the other three.

Businessman Ahmed Ali, from Shaw, is the major shareholder in WPP and has a personal connection with the mill.

He said: “I grew up just a street away from the back of the mill and it has always been derelict and an eyesore.

“I’ve never seen it as a vibrant venue but that’s what we hope to do, to give it a new lease of life while keeping its Grade II-listing. At the moment, big wedding parties have nowhere to go in Oldham as there just isn’t the capacity and they are forced to travel miles out of town.

“Our venue will be able to cope with 1,500 guests, with multiple receptions, with food catered on site.

“It’s a very exciting project.”

The first floor, more than 20,000 sq ft, will also function as a conference and event facility.

If the full plan is approved, the owners are also hoping to create more than 1,000 jobs.

Mr Ali said: “There really is nothing like this in Oldham.

“Once all the space is rented out there could be between 1,000 and 1,500 jobs created.

“About 70 per cent of the building work is done and we could be up and running in the next few months.

“It will be wonderful to see the mill back in operation.”

The planning application will be considered by Oldham Planning Committee at a later date.