A NEW appointment has been made within Oldham Council to help drive the borough’s regeneration.

Emma Barton, the current director of economy at the council, is set take up a new role as executive director for place and economic growth and will lead on the regeneration of the borough, including putting the town centre plans into action and building more homes.

Emma, who headed the council’s ‘Creating a better place’ programme, will also oversee the delivery of core environmental services like highways, waste services and parks and green spaces.

After qualifying with a Master of Engineering from University of Leeds, Emma began her career within civil engineering in the private sector.

From there she became involved in local authority work and later took a position as a senior transport engineer at Wigan council, working her way up to assistant director of economy and regeneration before moving to Oldham Council.

Discussing her new role, Emma Barton, said: “Oldham has so much potential and is on the cusp of something really exciting. You’ll already have seen the ambitious plans we have in place for the town and I’m grateful that so many residents took the time to give their thoughts on the projects. We’re now about to go into delivery mode that will see huge transformation and breathe new life into the town centre.

“I will continue to work hard for Oldham residents and businesses and look forward to being part of Oldham’s vibrant future.”

Commenting on the appointment, Harry Catherall, chief executive of Oldham Council, said: “Emma is an inspiring leader with an impressive track record of delivering complex regeneration programmes and someone who has excelled in her three years at the council.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming Emma to her new position on our strong and talented executive management team. She's an exceptional leader who share our values and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience.

“This key position has a vital role to play in helping us deliver our ambitious regeneration plans for residents and in delivering high-quality services that support the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Leader of Oldham Council, Cllr Arooj Shah, added: "As well as forging ahead with our key regeneration priority, Emma will also be taking the lead on our core council services. These are the services that our residents have told us matter to them the most, like keeping our streets clean through the 'Don't Trash Oldham' campaign, emptying bins, filling potholes, and looking after our parks and green spaces.

"I look forward to working with Emma in her new role to improve service and make a real difference to residents' lives."