Royton Town Hall refurb to move forward

The refurbishment of Royton Town Hall looks set to move forward.Purpose-built in 1880, the venue and adjacent library are considered to be in a “dilapidated state of internal finish” and are only partially occupied. A feasibility exercise was carried out that sought to identify alternative uses that were commercially viable.Relocating the library, making better use of the main town hall building and using the area vacated by the former for commercial use “appears to be the most logical opportunity”.Cabinet subsequently approved spend of £2.9m and resolved to progress a scheme to remodel and refurbish the site.Approval was granted last year.Since then, more detailed designs have been drawn up and a cost plan finalised, meaning the council will shortly be able to tender the works. A contractor now needs to be named.As a result, Cabinet has been advised to grant authority to the member for economy and enterprise in consultation with the director of economy, the director of legal services, the director of finance and the cabinet member for finance to procure, negotiate, re-negotiate, award and execute a main contractor for the works.The project will coincide with the wider improvements being made across the town, details of which are set to be discussed at Insider’s Invest in Oldham breakfast event. Taking place at the Mahdlo Youth Zone on 25 February, it will bring together leaders from the public, private and development sectors to assess the area’s prospects. Click here to register.