£22.5m vision awaits go-ahead

HOW it could look: a computer-generated image of the new vision for Royton

ROYTON’S blighted assembly hall will be bulldozed if planners seal the deal on a £22.5 million central scheme.

The doomed building was bought by developers Dransfield Properties in 2011, after Whispers Developments’ plans to turn it into function rooms stalled.

The Manchester company had bought the hall for £215,000 in 2002 but left an eyesore for locals after failing to get the project off the ground.

Councillor Steven Bashforth said he was delighted to say good riddance to the market square’s “sorry saga”.

“I’m pleased it is going. It is a bad image for the town.

“We didn’t get the assembly hall but we are getting a new town centre, we’re also having our town hall developed and a new leisure centre — we can’t ask for more than that.”

The hall’s demolition is part of a plan to generate 300 local jobs.

Phase one involves buillding six shop units and a doctor’s surgery and creating new car parking spaces from the former health centre.

In phase two a large supermarket and/or three to four larger store units would be placed on the assembly hall site.

There would also be a new children’s play centre, cafe and other accommodation.