87 jobs on the way

ALMOST 90 jobs are to be created as part of an £8million investment into the former Westhulme Hospital site.

Following agreement to take ownership of the land off Chadderton Way from the NHS Trust, the council will sell it to a “major business with a global brand”.

The operators, as yet unnamed, are committed to the Get Oldham Working campaign, which has already created over its intended 2,015 jobs — and local colleges. The authority was first approached by the firm last year, looking for a five or six-acre site.

The proposals were unanimously approved by councillors at a Cabinet meeting last night.

The hospital was recently demolished as part of the redevelopment of the Royal Oldham Hospital. The NHS Trust has already provisionally agreed to the terms of the transfer. Fees for the transaction will be covered by the new owners.

The proposals will also allow for a grass sports pitch to be built to the north of the site - also a requirement of the development.