Muse lands £550m Oldham developer role

Oldham Council has selected Muse as development partner to deliver 2,000 homes across eight sites in the town centre.The sites include Oldham Civic Centre, which will be freed up when Oldham Council staff relocate into the redeveloped Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre. Here, 400 to 600 apartments could be created.The former Oldham Magistrates’ Court site has also been earmarked for 125 to 225 flats.While a further 175 to 250 apartments could be built at the former Oldham Leisure Centre site, which sits adjacent to a planned new town centre park.These three sites alone are expected to have a development value of £150m-£200m.Five other ‘possible’ sites across the town centre, including the Tommyfield Market site, which will also relocate into the new-look Spindles, will raise the contract value to between £350m-£550m over the 15-year development plan.The deal includes an option to extend the duration of the partnership for a further 10 years.A master agreement has been negotiated during the procurement process, which includes establishing a joint project board that meets quarterly, and the partnership will now formulate more detailed strategies and business plans for sites in the town centre, expected to take around six months.Phil Mayall, Managing Director – North West at Muse, said: “We’re at the start of our journey with the council and we’re very much looking forward to getting out in the community as soon as we’re able, as we build a brighter future for Oldham, together.”As well as the new homes, the council’s ambitious Creating a Better Place plan will transform Oldham in many more ways – unlocking investment worth £285m and creating more than 1,000 new jobs and 100 apprenticeship opportunities.A new theatre will be at the heart of a cultural quarter that preserves Oldham’s heritage and, among other exciting developments, the Old Town Hall’s Egyptian Room which will be transformed into a modern food hall, featuring six casual dining-style food stalls, a bar and a central seating area.