Oldham Council wants your view on the redevelopment of Spindles Town Square

Oldham Council is calling on the public to have their say on the redevelopment of Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre.

The council purchased the landmark building in Autumn 2020 at a cost of £9.5million, described by Council Leader Sean Fielding at the time as a "knock-down price".

The council plan to provide a new home for Tommyfield Market, and hope to kickstart redevelopment across the town centre.

As well as moving the market into the Spindles, the council say they are "exploring options" to further redevelop the shopping centre as part of their economic and Covid-19 recovery plans.

As part of the plan, the council now wants to hear from Oldham residents, who can share their ideas and thoughts on the development of the centre which originally opened as Town Square Shopping Centre in 1981. The Spindles was added in 1993.

Cllr Sean Fielding, Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said: "We bought Spindles with a clear aim – to support the future of Oldham.  

"This includes providing Tommyfield Market with a much-needed new home, ensuring Spindles Town Square has a wide-ranging offer that isn’t just focused on retail and to unlock land for new homes, a new park and public open space.

"We want everyone to have their say, your opinion and ideas are so important. It’s an opportunity to tell us what you want from the future Tommyfield Market and Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre - and for us to learn from this and feed them into our plans.”

Developers are also being given the chance to engage with the local authority and outline their approach to delivering the redevelopment project.

The council say they are also looking at other new developments within the shopping centre. Initial plans include a flexible contemporary workspace to appeal to new entrepreneurs and growing sectors like creative design and media.

The redevelopment of Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre is a key part of Oldham Council’s Creating a Better Place strategy.

Cllr Fielding added: “By making the town centre a family friendly, accessible, inclusive place to live, work and spend time for leisure – we can breathe new life into it and ensure it has a sustainable and thriving future.

“Most importantly, these new development plans will ensure we can create jobs and apprenticeship opportunities for our residents at this really difficult time.”

You can take part in the survey by clicking or tapping here

It is open now until Monday 8 March.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.