Plans to bid for £2 million funding to help restore Foxdenton Hall and improve Foxdenton Park are being put forward.

The Chadderton Community Benefit Society’s Graham Taylor and Cllr Colin McLaren discussed some of the plans with The Oldham Times.

The society, which currently runs Lydia’s Tearoom, plans to submit an expression of interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for £2 million in funding to renovate the Grade II* listed Foxdenton Hall, with a view to reopen it to the public.

The building was last opened to the public in 2011.

According to the society, the hall is currently closed as it is deemed unsafe due to electrical and plumbing issues.

With estimated costs of running the hall expected to be £50,000 per year, Cllr McLaren warned that it would have to be able to sustain itself – and the society is open to suggestions.

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In addition to the renovation, the society is looking to raise funds for park improvements – which could see new full size 3G all-year all-weather football pitches, changing rooms, showers, increased seating, an enhanced sensory garden, new footpaths, exercise equipment, and more.

Plans to create a pond dipping area, restore the walled garden and create better children’s play facilities are also being looked at.

The society estimates the restoration of the hall and the upgrades to the park could require a total of £5 million, of which £2 million would be used on the hall.

Work could begin on the restoration as early as 2025, if funding bids are successful.

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The society is already appealing for volunteers to help, and for organisers and clubs to get in touch to express interest to run activities, with a view to get them up and running elsewhere ready for the building to open.

Cllr McLaren said: “Things are in motion; we keep finding bits of money to do things.”

Mr Taylor added: “We don’t want to just renovate it all and then stand back and say ‘that’s that’. We need to run it, it’s got to be a community hub.

“We’re looking to have things in there like yoga classes, music classes, art classes.”

Cllr McLaren added: “It becomes a community hub.”

Oldham Council, the owner of the hall, is also expected to contribute around £400,000 to the restoration.

Previously owned by the Radclyffe family, Foxdenton Hall was sold to Chadderton Urban District Council in 1960.

In addition to the restoration, the council will be paying £65,000 out of its Covid business recovery fund to add an extension to Lydia’s Tearoom over the next few months, with park staff currently based in the Foxdenton Hall basement expected to move.

Cllr Peter Dean, Cabinet member for communities and culture, said: “Foxdenton Hall is an important heritage building but like many old homes of this size, it is no longer occupied and is in need of significant investment to protect it for the future.

“Oldham Council has been working with Chadderton Together for a number of years to explore how we can support the group in their ambitious plans to bring the building back into use.

“They, like us, want to see the building returned its former glory for the benefit of the community. We are pleased to continue to support them with their vision which includes looking at potential external funding options and grants to finance the project.”

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