Historic Prudential building in Oldham secures £1 million for repairs

Situated on Union Street directly next to the Oldham Central Metrolink stop, the property dates back to 1889. It was designed by Alfred Waterhouse, a prominent architect of the Victorian period whose portfolio includes the Natural History Museum and Manchester Town Hall. The structure had fallen into dereliction and was previously named by the Victorian Society as one of the most at-risk historic buildings in the United Kingdom, prompting the local authority to step in during 2024 by using compulsory purchase powers to acquire it.

Regional Investment and Background

The grant is delivered by Historic England and financed through the government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It forms part of a wider five-year funding programme worth up to £75 million running until 2030, designed to deliver urgent repairs, support jobs and skills, and return historic properties to productive use.

Oldham Council has linked the award to other heritage schemes in the borough, pointing to the restoration of the former Old Library building—now renamed the J.R Clynes building—which houses the Council Chamber and Mayor's Parlour. James Kington, the council's Director of Growth, stated that the investment is fantastic news for the community and aids the authority's commitment to bringing historic sites back into sustainable use.

Louise Brennan, Director of Regions at Historic England, noted that investing in at-risk buildings provides an opportunity to unlock their potential and breathe new life into historic areas. The funding aims to support urgent conservation needs and help projects move towards sustainable futures through continued or new usage.