Council in the market for buyers

OLDHAM Council is hoping to offload several of its historic and redundant buildings by selling them to bidders.

The prominent Grade II-listed Alexandra Lodge, along with Prospect House and the Victorian Greenacres Lodge are among the properties for sale.

Other buildings on the list include Chadderton Lodge, the former Hill Top School, Strinesdale, and the detached Royton properties Northgate House and Greenbank Centre.

Private company Unity Partnership, which works closely with the local authority, is contracted to manage the tender processes on the council’s behalf.

About £250,000 is spent every year by the council on securing old buildings.

Chadderton’s Prospect House is currently occupied by children’s services with an option to relocate the service to Oldham Civic Centre in the longer term. Northgate House and Greenbank Centre, in Firbank Road, Royton, have been occupied and used by social services as an educational centre for maladjusted children.

The council is offering refurbishment or complete redevelopment of the site.

Alexandra Lodge, built in 1863 just inside the gates of Alexandra Park, was used as a storage and rest area.

The property requires extensive refurbishment, sensitive to its Grade II-listed status, but has a guide price of £75,000.

Greenacres Lodge comprises a detached 19th century stone-built villa set in its own grounds off Greenacres Road and was used as a residential home for people with learning difficulties up until April, 2008.

The three-bedroom, stone Chadderton Lodge, in a very quiet neighbourhood, stands just inside Chadderton Cemetery gates. Its guide price is £75,000.

Hill Top School, off Arncliffe Rise, Strinesdale, stands in 4.69 acres. It was built in the 1930s and is now in a poor state of repair.

Buildings such as the former Byron Street School, Royton, the former Limeside Library in Elm Road and land at the old day nursery Park View Centre have all been declared surplus to requirements.

Unity Partnership is asking interested parties to submit their tenders soon.

Their website highlights nine council-owned properties up for sale.

The process for a number of the properties is by the end of this month or towards the end of February.