Oldham Means Business

COUNCIL chiefs arrived in London this morning on a mission to secure vital funding for Oldham’s regeneration plans.

The team wasjoined by partners and Sport and Tourism Minister Hugh Robertson, to champion the borough by showcasing exciting development options to an audience of potential investors and developers.

The event, at the Royal National Theatre at South Bank, was to hear speeches from Oldham Council leader Councillor Jim McMahon and chief executive Charlie Parker.

The Minister has been asked to champion Hotel Future, the luxury hotel and national hospitality training academy that is one of Oldham’s landmark developments, while Manchester City Council chief executive was enlisted to place Oldham’s plans in the context of the city region as a whole.

On offer to investors are land opportunities, support services and financial incentives. Guests also had the opportunity to speak to the council’s inward-investment team, a mix of private and public-sector experts able to facilitate rapid development.

Councillor McMahon said: “Our aim is to get investors to see Oldham differently, as a place with excellent infrastructure and opportunities, but also as a place with a real commitment to making things happen. The key message is that Oldham Means Business.”

Mr Parker added: “Oldham Council has a shared vision and willingness at all levels to make things happen. The private sector will be prime movers in our regeneration plans, but Oldham Council is stepping up to work alongside them to become agents of change.”