Plans for a spectacular £15million state-of-the-art leisure facility have today been unveiled by Oldham Council – who hope the project will ‘put them on the national sporting map’.
Officials have revealed the initial artist’s impressions of how the new leisure facility may eventually look which, if approved, will be built at the junction of Manchester Street and St Domingo Street.
The current proposals will act as the basis for a forthcoming planning application which is due to be submitted in early February 2014 – and the council hope the project will be completed by 2015.
Under the proposals, the leisure centre will feature a 25-metre eight-lane swimming pool of county-level competition standard, spectator seating gallery to the main pool providing 250 seats and an eight-court sports hall also with 250 spectator seats.
Oldham Council are hoping that the facilities will help attract significant amount regional and televised competitions to the area.
Councillor Jim McMahon, Oldham Council Leader, said: “The new Oldham facility would have the correct specifications to attract major regional competitions in some sports. It would also be able to host much larger events than ever before, like Sky Sports boxing, and put us on the national sporting map.
“Providing an Olympic legacy for our residents is a big priority for Oldham Council. It is about raising the aspirations of Oldham residents and improving their facilities as well.
“The swimming pool would also be a major improvement on what we already have, bringing us up to county standard, with enhanced spectator facilities.
Mr McMahon praised the artist’s impressions and says that the new leisure centre shows the council’s commitment to providing residents with a flagship state-of the-art facility.
The council have been working closely with the construction company, Willmott Dixon as well as national sporting governing bodies of sport and specialist leisure consultants.
He said: “This is yet another milestone and example of how Oldham Council is being proactive and regenerating our borough – despite our financial challenges.”
The current Oldham Sports Centre will remain open until new facility is complete, which is scheduled to be finished by Autumn 2015.
Public displays of the proposals will be on show at the Civic Centre and Oldham Sports Centre’s main reception from today until the end of February.
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