Good news for our borough with £2.38 million allocated to Oldham Council through the new Derelict Buildings Fund I was pleased to develop and announce alongside the budget.
This funding is an opportunity to breathe new life into our town centre & neighbourhoods, support local businesses and protect the buildings that form part of our community’s identity & proud heritage.
Every district has a building which has been laid empty for too long bringing down the area. From our campaign to save Holy Rosary Church in Fitton Hill, to securing the future of the former Harry’s Bar and bringing the Prudential Building back into meaningful use, we know important places like these can a future if they secure investment.
How the funding will be ultimately allocated will be down to local determination with MPs acting as programme champions who may also back particular projects. Local community involvement so the funding has the greatest reach, and working to bring in match funding will be important to give greater impact for this vital investment.
This does alongside over £millions of new investment into Oldham from government and nw national funds like the £65m Community Ownership Funding, £10m High Street Rental Auctions and more.
I’ll be working with the Council and local communities in Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton to empower them to make the most of this investment.
