Oldham Council is hosting a special one-day information event for potential contractors to refurbish and develop the Old Town Hall.
The Local Authority has ambitious plans to transform the Grade II-listed building into a cinema and family entertainment complex.
Expressions of interest were invited from contractors for work to the shell and core of the building which will create the spaces for eight cinema screens, four restaurants and a retail outlet.
From around one hundred respondents, Oldham Council has shortlisted six potential contractors who have been sent an Invitation to Tender for this work. These firms will now attend a special one-day event in Oldham on Monday, April 22. They will learn more about Oldham’s wider and town centre regeneration plans and take a tour inside the Old Town Hall venue.
Jim McMahon, Oldham Council Leader, said, “Our plans for the Old Town Hall are integral to our vision for the wider town centre and this event is an important milestone in this project. Oldham needs a cinema and family entertainment venue and this site offers a fantastic opportunity to deliver that in a unique and historic setting.
“As well as allowing bidders to hold talks with our project team about the procurement process, it’s also important they get to see the venue for themselves and understand our passion to restore it as a symbol of civic pride.
“Following this event the contractors will have approximately six weeks to price up the work with tenders due to be returned to us in June and work set to begin on-site this autumn.”
Oldham Council’s plans to turn the Old Town Hall into a cinema and family entertainment venue cleared the final planning hurdle last October when the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) gave Listed Building Consent.
The plans, drawn up by BDP, were designed to capitalise on the venue’s town centre location and to sympathetically conserve as much of the existing building as possible, whilst also adding a modern glazed extension.
More information about the plans can be viewed at: http://www.oldham.gov.uk/oldtownhall