WORK TO transform Oldham’s Old Town Hall into a new seven-screen cinema is set to enter a significant new phase.
Morgan Sindall, contractors at the Grade II-listed building, have been on-site at the historic venue since Oldham Council handed over the keys in October 2013.
The first stage of the project – works including action to dry out the building, secure its façade and safeguard heritage elements – is now nearing completion.
As part of the next phase work will focus on the Clegg Street side which is to be removed to make way for a cinema auditoria and a unique glass box extension.
It marks a significant step towards delivering a new 800-seat cinema complex, to be run by Odeon, Europe’s largest cinema operator, with six restaurants and a branded café franchise.
Workers have begun removing the brick chimneys and slate tile roofs, followed by the timber roof trusses, and the upper storeys of the external wall.
The new glass extension will provide access to the various levels of the cinema and the frontage to the new restaurants opening onto a new public square.
The external wall on the Greaves Street side, which will be the back wall of the new cinema, has been propped up to support it during these works.
Jim McMahon, Oldham Council Leader, said: “Visitors to Oldham town centre will notice significant changes to the Old Town Hall site and increasing activity in the coming months.
“We’re delighted the enabling works to secure and safeguard the building are nearing completion.
“These activities are vital but it’s exciting that we can look forward to the delivery of the new state-of-the-art entertainment complex in that unique setting.
“We hope to go public with more details – the next stage in an exciting period of change for Oldham town centre – later this year.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.