Plans are being made to tear down the mill in Royton and replace it with flats / Image: Google Map
Plans are being made to demolish a derelict Victorian mill in Oldham and use the space to build a five-storey block of flats.
Thornham Mill has stood on Oozewood Road in Royton since 1885 and has been expanded on numerous occasions throughout the past century.
But the building has long since fallen into a state of disrepair, and Blackmores D Ltd has launched a planning application to the local council – aiming to create 72 apartments on the site.
The scheme also involves creating a car park with room for 87 vehicles – made up of 69 basement spaces and 18 on the ground floor .
Storage for 72 bicycles will be provided at the rear of the site.
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The developer has also signalled its intentions to create green, landscaped shared outside space for residents.
The old mill has stood on Oozewood Road since the 1800s / Image: Google Maps
The design and access document from Blackmores reads: “The majority of the building has remained empty since 1962 when Thornham Spinning Co. went into voluntary liquidation, and has since suffered from a general lack of maintenance.
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“Whilst the building has some historical merit in representing the area’s past in cotton mill industry, it has now become derelict and is no longer fit for reuse.”
A previous scheme for the building was approved in 2007 but was never realised.
The document adds: “The previous proposed building does not respond to its context well as there is no reference to the architecture of the existing mill or surrounding buildings within its design.
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“The architectural style and use of materiality have now since become outdated and seek reviewing.”
Blackmores has stated that the new scheme takes architectural cues from the existing building to create “a modern elegant design”, promising a “unique residential project that can continue to be seen as a landmark and is reflective of its setting.”
Consultation on the plans for the Oldham mill will run until early March – with a decision set to be made later in spring.
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Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
Daisy Jackson
Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
The Manc -
23rd February 2021 
