Exciting plans for a new Coliseum and heritage centre

Plans for a new Heritage Centre and Coliseum Theatre have been granted crucial development funding.

THESE are the plans for a new Oldham Coliseum and heritage centre linking the town centre’s cultural jewels.

They show the former Oldham Library and Art Gallery in Union Street transformed into a heritage centre.

It is linked to a new Coliseum theatre on the current Southgate Street car park.

The development, next to a Metrolink stop, would join up with Gallery Oldham, library and lifelong learning centre in an integrated facility.

Oldham has received £615,000 Heritage Lottery funding to develop the heritage aspect of the scheme. This will support a bid for a total grant of £3.9m. A separate application will be made to Arts Council England for money towards the new Oldham Coliseum with a decision expected in January,

Delighted council leader Jim McMahon said: “Heritage will be the foundation stone from which we rebuild Oldham and this is an important part of our plans which show we are gaining real momentum.

“Street art and features will be part of that but an Oldham Heritage Centre — where we tell and celebrate the history of our borough – will be absolutely central.

“The wider regeneration scheme we’re planning here is inspiring because it will bring all our cultural jewels together in one integrated facility.

“That will significantly enhance our leisure, arts and heritage offer and provide yet another significant catalyst for wider regeneration of our town centre.

“This is a perfect location on the Metrolink line for a development of its kind and offers huge potential benefits for local residents, businesses and visitors alike.

“When you put this alongside plans for the old town hall to become a cinema with restaurants and cafes you can see Oldham Council is deadly serious about providing facilities that attract a new kind of visitor here and inspire a greater sense of pride in our town centre.

“After more than a year of hard work behind the scenes it is exciting to finally be able to go public with these plans.”
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