Sale secures future of historic building

SOLD . . . Greenacres Lodge will be used as a private residence

THE future of Greenacres Lodge has been secured after Oldham Council found a buyer for the historic building.

There had been fears the Waterhead landmark — built in 1843 — could be demolished.

But the council says the purchaser will respect the building’s heritage and restore the lodge as a personal dwelling.

The identity of the buyer currently remains confidential.

The sale follows a six-month marketing campaign by Oldham Council’s asset management team to ensure the building’s availability was well known.

The council had offered the building for sale, either for conversion to a new use or for demolition and redevelopment of the site.

It prompted Lib-Dem councillors to urge people to bombard the council with letters asking them to preserve the popular stone-built villa.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, cabinet member for housing, transport and regeneration, said “We felt it important right from the start of this process that we found a buyer who would keep the building standing; it forms an important part of Oldham’s heritage.”

Greenacres Lodge sits on a 1.75 acre site off Greenacres Road and was built as a home for local Mill owner James Waring. It was used as a recuperation site for soldiers during the First World War, before coming in to council ownership in 1927.

It was used as a residential home for people with learning difficulties until April, 2008, before becoming surplus to council requirements.