Our Heritage

Plan of action... an artists's impression of what the new Coliseum and Heritage Centre will look like

OLDHAM Council's plans to build a new Heritage and Arts Centre have been given the green light after the project was handed a vital double injection of funding.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has now approved a grant of £3.379 million towards the project following a successful funding bid.

The news means the total funding package needed for the project to proceed is now complete - thanks also to a once-in-a-lifetime offer of significant funding from local philanthropist, Sir Norman Stoller.

Through his Charitable Trust, which has given millions to good causes since the 1980s, it can be revealed today that the local knight is donating £4 million - 25 per cent of the total cost - to realise the exciting plans.

Oldham Council and its partners are undertaking a phased programme over 10 years that is designed to deliver a Cultural