Oldham council has begun the transformation of a prominent 'eyesore' in the town centre. Contractors have cleared two decades' worth of overgrown trees and shrubs from the Grade-II listed Prudential Assurance Building on Union Street.
The 135 year old structure has been slowly deteriorating since its previous occupants left in the early 2000s.
Last year, the council acquired the building through a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in an effort to 'rescue' the historic site from further decay and to begin plans to restore the site.
Before-and-after images shared on the council's Facebook page unveil the 'beautiful building' concealed beneath years of unchecked plant growth. The photos, which many locals have praised as a 'good start' for the town, have sparked widespread speculation about the building's future.
"This would be perfect for an Oldham version of Affleck's Palace," Danny Mulligan proposed on Facebook, alluding to the independent shopping haven in the Northern Quarter. Other suggestions included converting the building into a restaurant and flats, while one Oldham mother appealed for it to be transformed into 'something fun for young people'.
The majority of Oldham residents have expressed their approval for the 'long overdue' pruning around the iconic building. However, Melissa Harrington humorously suggested that the council 'could have made a fortune hiring it out for zombie or apocalypse movies or music videos'.
It appears that plans are now in motion to repurpose the building as an office and workspace. The Prudential Assurance Site was initially earmarked to become a business hub and co-working space under plans approved by town planners in 2023.
However, with the council's new 'start-up hub' now situated in the Spindles shopping centre, it seems probable that some aspects of the project may be revised.
The original plans were estimated to cost around £8.4m. A portion of the preliminary works will be funded by a £400,000 grant from Historic England, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Oldham Council, which pledged to aid in the preservation of four of Oldham's 'irreplaceable' historic assets.
In addition to the Prudential, these include the Lyceum theatre, the Old Post Office and the Masonic Hall on Union St, and the Old Museum and Friend's Meeting House on Greaves Street.
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