Oldham is set to receive £500,000 from the government to revive its high street in an effort to entice residents back to the shops.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is handing out the half-a-million sum to 10 areas of the country, including Oldham.

It comes after Oldham received more than £200,000 in funding from the government in December last year to improve Union Street and Yorkshire Street.

Oldham town centre will look to be revived with new innovative, multifunctional structures that will be installed on both Union Street and Yorkshire Street.

The Oldham Times: Union Street is one of the streets which will see the investmentUnion Street is one of the streets which will see the investment (Image: Google Maps)

These bespoke structures will have green roofs, planting and integrated lighting that can be used as seating areas and adapted into stalls for daytime and evening markets.

In partnership with businesses, green features, such as planters, hanging baskets and green walls, will be added near to the high street shops to create a better scenery for shoppers.

It is hoped that these changes will create a high-quality public environment where people want to spend more time, helping more businesses to flourish.

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The Minister for Levelling Up Jacob Young said: “High streets are the beating heart of our communities and we’re determined to keep them alive and flourishing through our levelling up support.

“Coupled with the new powers we’re giving to councils to rent out persistently empty spaces, our High Street Accelerators programme will make our towns more welcoming and pleasant places for people to enjoy.”

Maggie Hughes, Chair of the Oldham (Union Street and Yorkshire Street) High Street Accelerator partnership and owner of Zutti said: “This is another boost for Oldham town centre and the great work that is already underway.

The Oldham Times: Yorkshire Street will also become the home of the new structuresYorkshire Street will also become the home of the new structures (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

“We have been meeting up with other businesses and people who live, work and shop in the town to talk about what we want to see happening.

"There is so much enthusiasm in these meetings as we share our knowledge, experience but most importantly our pride in Oldham and what we want to see happen in the town.

“There is so much already happening to make a town centre to be proud of, with the new market, events space and the changes to Spindles, and this extra funding to make our streets brighter with planters and green walls will just make even more difference.

"As a business owner in the town centre, I want to do everything I can to make Oldham town centre thrive and I am really looking forward to working with fellow businesses on this and a whole range of other great things that we have planned this year.”