The restoration of the Old Library reached an important milestone this month with phase one complete, the council has said.

Work started on the site on Union Street almost a year ago, with a focus on protecting it from further damage and deterioration and salvaging what historical interest remains.

With phase one complete, contractor Tilbury Douglas can move on with its development before the Old Library is brought back into public use. Its completion date is in 2024.

They marked the important milestone with an event at Gallery Oldham on November 4, which included a tour of the site itself.

A spokesperson for the contractor said: "The first phase of the works created a safe space which can then be further developed.

"The Old Library is a key site in Oldham’s cultural quarter and sits beside Oldham Library and Gallery Oldham. The cultural quarter will also be boosted by a new theatre when the Old Post Office and former Quaker Meeting House are redeveloped, providing a new home for Oldham Coliseum."

They added: "The restored building will be a new civic space for public meetings and functions upstairs, including a new council chamber, mayoral chamber and space for support staff. This will support plans to free up the Civic Centre for future redevelopment, including relocating council staff to the redeveloped Spindles and council buildings across the borough.

"The Old Library's heritage will be celebrated by displaying civic artefacts and silverware dating back hundreds of years. Many of these items are housed in cabinets in the Civic Centre, so displaying them in the Old Library will make them more accessible to visitors."

Built in the 1880s, the Old Library was closed to the public almost six years ago.

Its restoration is thought to have brought a number of benefits to the area already, such as around £2m spent with its businesses.

Cllr Abdul Jabbar, the deputy leader of the council, said: “This building has been special to many hundreds and possibly thousands of Oldhamers who, like me, have used it as a place to study and further themselves, and its exciting to see the progress made during phase one.

"The restoration goes way beyond the fondness many of us have for it and it’s a vital part of our town centre regeneration – we’re creating a town centre for the future where people will want to live, work, visit and socialise."