Search on for Royton Town Hall contractor

Oldham Council has launched a £2.4m tender for a contractor to redevelop Royton Town Hall, after increasing the budget for the project by almost a third to £2.9m, and completing an extensive consultation.

The contract has gone to tender via the Procure Partnerships Framework, North West, with tenders due back on 10 February.

There is a budget allocation of £2.9m for the redevelopment, including £600,000 for contingencies. The cabinet approved the budget in September 2018, and planning permission was granted in April 2019.

The town hall building is currently dilapidated and part-occupied. The redevelopment plans include relocating the library from next door to make better use of the main town hall building, then using the library for commercial use to generate rental income.

The works are also set to include demolition of the rear extension, which was built shortly after the main town hall in 1880, and subsequent remodelling and reconfiguration of the external area immediately behind the building.

Oldham’s cabinet approved the contractor search at its meeting on Monday afternoon.

Cllr Sean Fielding said: “The Royton ward councillors would have liked this to have taken place sooner, but the work is [nonetheless] being progressed.

“I’ve seen the designs that are being progressed and think it’s an example of where historical societies and other stakeholders can really add value. The design is sympathetic to the building and is something that Roytonians can be proud of.”

Cllr Amanda Chadderton added: “We welcome the news. This has been on the front of more leaflets in my ward than I’d care to remember, throughout numerous election campaigns.”