Oldham Council has nominated Royton for the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Town Centre Challenge.

Sean Fielding, Leader of Oldham Council, met with Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, to confirm the move and the opportunities in Royton on 28 September.

The Town Centre Challenge is an ambitious new initiative which aims to regenerate urban centres across Greater Manchester. All local authorities were invited to bring forward a centre of their choice, along with the plans they need support in delivering.

The Mayor has pledged to then work with local authorities and partners to break down barriers standing in the way of unlocking the potential in town and urban centres, with a particular emphasis on housing and sustainable communities.

In the meeting at Royton Town Hall, Councillor Fielding outlined his ambitions for the area. These include quality homes, a renovated town hall and library, an improved public realm, footpath and cycling routes, better street lighting and investment in the Market Square.

The Mayor will actively work to bring together public and private landowners, developers, investors, housing providers, community groups and other key stakeholders to bring plans forward.

Councillor Fielding and Royton ward councillors accompanied Andy Burnham in a walkabout around the town centre to highlight potential areas of investment.

Sean Fielding said: “One of my four priorities as Leader of Oldham Council is to make sure Oldham maximises its share of investment from Greater Manchester’s devolution deal and this is a great way of helping us to do that.

“We have a number of centres across the borough that we could have put forward and we came to this decision after an extensive review of all the options. Regeneration isn’t just about Oldham Town Centre and we’re committed to regenerating all of our districts moving forward.

“Royton has fantastic local facilities such as the new leisure centre, health centre, supermarkets, a market and a town hall and library. On top of this there’s also a thriving nightlife with new bars and restaurants continuing to open and create a positive buzz in the area.

“Crucially, Royton has also got fantastic potential to grow and there are a number of sites that we are keen to unlock and develop by working closely with local partners with help from the Mayor and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

“The development of our town centres and the introduction of more good quality housing is vital as we seek to grow our local economy.

“I’m really excited to work with GMCA on our plans for Royton so we can truly see it fulfil its potential and deliver better homes and facilities for residents.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, added: “The Town Centre Challenge now has nine active participants across Greater Manchester which are being supported to deliver regeneration and development.”

“It was great to visit Royton and discuss the opportunities there with local people, businesses and residents.

“It’s clearly a place that already has a lot of activity going on and good facilities. I’m looking forward to seeing what can be done assist the masterplanning that Oldham Council has already undertaken and give the area the boost that it needs to thrive even more.”

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