Retail park could be redeveloped

RUN-DOWN Alexandra Retail Park could be given a new lease of life.

The shopping site has been bought by Sale-based Brookhouse Properties which plans a “significant” redevelopment.

It is home to Matalan and Benson’s Beds but the remaining units are unoccupied.

Furniture store ELS was the first business to open at the £5 million retail park on on the former Clegg Street railway goods yard on Boxing Day 1987.

But the centre has been in decline for years and proposals to revamp it in 1998 fell though.

There were also plans to demolish it in 2001, then Ikea walked away from negotiations to build a store there in 2005 when the land was sold to another developer.

Brookhouse is the council’s partner in the development company Oldham Property Partnership which is behind the the refurbishment Aldi store and town hall in Failsworth.

Mike Nuttall, group surveyor at Brookhouse, said: “The idea is to bring forward a significant redevelopment of the site.

“We’re in consultation with Oldham Council on that one at the moment.”

Councillor Dave Hibbert, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Oldham Council is committed to actively seeking out regeneration opportunities.

“No joint venture has yet been agreed regarding Alexandra Retail Park, however, we will continue to listen to all possible partners to achieve its goals for this site and others in the borough.”