Visitors to Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre will soon start to see lots of exciting changes taking place as plans to transform the building progress.

The redevelopment will include the new market with an events space above, co-working space for start-ups and entrepreneurs, and an arts and heritage archive. The project is expected to take around 18 months to complete.

Preparation work is now underway and major works are due to start over the coming weeks.

Hoardings are planned to go up around the former TJ Hughes store in Parliament Square in June with demolition works expected to commence following the Festival Oldham celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. More details will be provided closer to the time.

We’ll then create a brand-new split-level Tommyfield Market with a food hall opening up onto Parliament Square and linking to the shopping mall.

Hoardings on the upper mall have already been installed, so we can get ready for the development of new office and co-working space.

Ahead of the major redevelopment works starting, some businesses are relocating to new units, helping us to create a thriving ‘core’ retail offer on the ground floor making it easier and more enjoyable for shoppers to get around.

Cllr Amanda Chadderton, Leader Elect at Oldham Council, said: “We’re really happy to be kicking off the centre’s transformation and I’m sure residents will also welcome this news.

“We’ve got a lot of exciting plans for Spindles which will give the place a new lease of life. Thank you to all the centre’s tenants for being so accommodating of our plans and for their continued commitment to Oldham town centre.

“Spindles and the car park will be open throughout the redevelopment and we’ll do our best to keep disruption to a minimum.

“Tommyfield Market also continues to trade in the existing market hall until it relocates to its new home next year. Please keep on supporting your local market traders and remember, parking at the market hall is free after 3pm weekdays and free for up to three hours at weekends.”

At Spindles, Waterstones, Costa Coffee, Asiana Clinic and H&T Pawnbrokers are on the move to new and improved units.

Waterstones is relocating to Unit 24 in the lower mall of Spindles, opposite The Works.

Daniella Pintar, store manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Waterstones Oldham is moving to a beautiful new shop on the ground floor of the Spindles. The centre has been very supportive of the store throughout the process.

“We can’t wait to share all the wonderful new publishing with our local community which we have been part of since 2006.”

Costa will have a new two-storey store fronting High Street when it moves to Unit 3, Town Square, formerly occupied by Topman.

Simon Vardy, franchisee, said: “Having been a tenant of the centre for more than 15 years, we’re excited to be relocating. It’s a great location on the high street and we’re looking forward to continuing our support of the town centre.”

Asiana Clinic has already moved to Unit 2a, Town Square, which was previously the Thornton’s store.

Hina Latif, owner of Asiana Clinic, said: “We are excited about moving to a busier location in the centre and will be welcoming a new beautician to the team.”

H&T Pawnbrokers will take over the former Ernest Jones store at Unit 8, Town Square.

A spokesperson for the company said: "H&T are thrilled to be opening a new unit in a prime location in the popular Spindles.

"The new unit will showcase our great range of new and pre-owned jewellery and watches and offer other services including travel money at great rates. We look forward to welcoming you to our new store soon."

A planning application for the centre’s transformation was submitted in March and is due to be decided next month. Approval to demolish TJ Hughes was granted in January.

Mike Flanagan, Centre Manager, added: “It’s great to see the future of the centre coming to fruition along with the tenant moves, demonstrating their loyalty to the centre and the town. We can then build on this momentum as we start the redevelopment works.”

Contact Information

Jessica Beckett
jessica.beckett@oldham.gov.uk