Retail therapy

NEW multi-million plans to deliver up to 300 jobs in a regenerated Royton are finally due to be submitted to Oldham Council.

Developer Dransfield Properties wants permission to use the land for shops, a medical centre, offices, a children’s play centre and a petrol station.

The company — which bought a final parcel of the land from Royton developer Terry McNicholas for an undisclosed fee — has been working on the ambitious scheme for 12 months.

If the £22.5 million plans are passed, building could start in the summer.

The development will be bullt in two phases, and once complete will transform the town centre and bring up to 300 new jobs.

Detailed plans have been submitted for phase one of the work.

This will create a 22,766 sq ft modern retail area in the existing precinct, off Rochdale Road, replacing a rundown block. This phase will also bring a new medical centre and better parking.

Dransfield’s retail property director Andrew Malley, said: “There has been a great deal of interest and enthusiasm for our plans for Royton.

“The two stages allow us to deliver some of the benefits in the shorter term.”