A £40million Levelling Up bid has been put in by Oldham Council to fund ‘major’ environmental and creative projects across the borough.

The local authority has announced it has submitted two bids of £20 million each to the Government which would cover a range of projects including a renovation of the Lyceum theatre and a learning centre at Northern Roots eco-park.

They have been submitted by parliamentary constituencies, one for Oldham East and Saddleworth the other for Oldham West and Royton.

In Oldham East and Saddleworth, the council wants to support three key projects to help build back greener and back a Green New Deal commitment to being carbon neutral by 2030. 

The Oldham Times: The Lyceum Theatre will be refurbished with the funds.The Lyceum Theatre will be refurbished with the funds.

This includes a new business centre, The Green Shoots Centre, to support environment technology start-ups based at Rhodes Bank and proposals to use Northern Roots Learning Centre as an education facility to link green and sustainable skills.

The Northern Roots project, which is creating the UK’s largest urban farm on land near Alexandra Park, will be at the heart of these plans with the council hoping to use its learning centre as a way to strengthen local environmental skills through vocational courses.

The Oldham Greenway will also link to the Green Shoots Centre as well as the new town centre Jubilee Park and Northern Roots so that people can easily travel on bike or on foot to new venues across the town centre.

The Oldham Times: The Northern Roots project will be at the heart of major environmental plans in Oldham East and Saddleworth.The Northern Roots project will be at the heart of major environmental plans in Oldham East and Saddleworth.

Over in Oldham West and Royton, the council has focussed on projects to develop a creative district.

The Lyceum Theatre and Masonic Hall will be refurbished to create a flexible workspace for creative industries.

Additional funding has been earmarked for the re-opening of the Old Library, which includes developing an enhanced gallery space and workshops in addition to a renovated garden area situated between the Old Library, Gallery Oldham and the forthcoming new theatre at the heart of Oldham’s Cultural Quarter.

The Oldham Times: The funding could go towards re-opening the Old Library which is in the midst of major reconstruction work.The funding could go towards re-opening the Old Library which is in the midst of major reconstruction work.

The money will also be used to create flexible events spaces at the redeveloped Spindles Town Square.

Tameside Council is leading on the bids relating to the Ashton and Failsworth consituency.

The Levelling Up bids follow Oldham Council’s applications to secure Towns Funds and Future High Streets Fund grants of £24.4 million and £10.75 million respectively.

Oldham Council leader Amanda Chadderton said: “Oldham has so much potential and as a council we will do everything in our power to help our borough thrive. 

The Oldham Times: Council leader Amanda Chadderton said the Levelling Up funds will help to "build a better borough and future."Council leader Amanda Chadderton said the Levelling Up funds will help to "build a better borough and future."

“Towns like ours have been hit hardest by austerity, the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

"Despite this we remain one of the most entrepreneurial towns in the UK. 

“We have a clear direction for Oldham and have identified exciting projects as part of our Levelling Up bids which will help us to build a better borough and future. 

“This is a real chance for Government to prove they are serious about spreading opportunity more equally across the UK and we look forward to hearing the results of our application.”