Public flocks to see old Town Hall plans

The consultation day in the old Town Hall was very popular. Photo: Stuart Littleford.

A public consultation event in Oldham town centre showcasing plans to regenerate the Old Town Hall has attracted big public interest.

Residents queued last week to venture inside the historic venue for the first time since it was closed in the mid-1990s.

A series of information boards and artists impressions were on display in the Egyptian Room – the old Borough Treasurer’s room – and people were able to give their views and quiz officers about the proposals.

Oldham Council commissioned BDP to investigate a range and mix of possible uses that could capitalise on the Grade II-listed building’s location and suitability, plus an ability to sympathetically conserve as much of the existing building as possible.

The plans unveiled today are a vision to restore the venue as a civic ‘jewel’ and show how redevelopment could incorporate a new cinema, cafes and restaurants, and retail outlets.

Jim McMahon, Oldham Council Leader, said: “This was a significant day in our plans to regenerate the Old Town Hall and restore it as a source of civic pride.”

“It is hugely important that we make progress on these matters and our vision here is to deliver a fantastic new facility. This would be an entertainment venue to attract families back into the town centre, that can capitalise on Metrolink, and also act as a catalyst for wider regeneration.

“This is an exciting opportunity to bring a fantastic building back into use and create a venue for the Borough that is very different to other out-of-town cinema developments – something we can all be proud of.

“We will now be looking at the public feedback from this event very closely and this will help us to fine tune the final proposals in the coming weeks.” The consultation event was the first opportunity for members of the public to step back inside the historic venue since it was closed back in the mid-1990s.

An artists impression of the finished development.

One of the challenges in bringing the Old Town Hall back into use is its sloping site.

BDP’s new proposals show how building an extension onto the Clegg Street side of the building can solve the problem of moving through the three-level building and between levels.

This extension could provide a new entrance and foyers to the cinema areas, overlooking a new pedestrian square (replacing the current car park and roadway). It also provides an opportunity to create a new façade towards that square and the Town Square shopping centre.

The ‘Light Box’ is a new central element in the proposals. This is a translucent box providing the cinemas with attractive foyers and spaces with views out onto the new pedestrian area.

It would be clad in translucent glass to give controlled views in and out of the building. In the daytime it would provide a luminous appearance to the building and at dusk and night time – when the cinema foyers will be busiest – it would use a range of lighting effects to provide a light, active and animated street environment.

The light box would sit on a stone base or plinth, which will match the stone of the existing town hall building.

BDPs plans propose that Level 0 – street level – would be used for retail, cafes. The main frontage to Town Square would be a café or retail unit, three café/restaurants could step down the hill along Clegg Street. Levels 1 and 2 would be for the cinema screens which would be accessed from a new entrance on Town Square. The building could accommodate eight cinema screens – two large screens and six smaller screens within existing spaces. This would offer a total approximate seating capacity of 940.

Anyone who was unable to attend the consultation event can email any feedback or queries about the plans to invest@oldham.gov.uk before June 12, 2012.