Former town hall building could become hotel as Muse reveal plans for Civic Centre tower in Oldham

A ‘landmark’ structure in Oldham that divides opinion among the town’s residents could soon be turned into a hotel.

The 15-storey Civic Centre tower could soon accommodate hundreds of guests if the council approves plans from developers Muse.

Muse has proposed a change of use for the former council office block, aiming to convert it into a hotel with 126 rooms. The plans include service areas, a restaurant, and a conference hall across the basement, ground, and first floors.

Opinions on the brutalist-style building are split. Some label it an ‘eyesore that should be demolished’, while others see it as an ‘important landmark and wayfinder’.

Planning documents from Muse highlight the tower’s prominence: "The tower stands at the summit of the town and is visually very prominent. At fifteen stories the block towers above surrounding buildings as a single beacon in the town skyline and can be seen from miles around, even from South Manchester as well as Tameside and Stockport."

They add: "It was clear that Civic Tower presented a landmark building in the townscape which should be retained and celebrated."

These proposals form part of a broader initiative to revitalise Oldham, including the introduction of 2,000 new homes to the town centre, fresh commercial spaces, and the creation of the new Jubilee Park. The scheme also covers the remainder of Oldham’s Civic Centre and Queen Elizabeth Hall, slated for demolition to pave the way for residential development.

The only remaining structure would be the tower. Constructed between 1962 and 1977 by Cecil Howitt & Partners, there are currently no plans for external changes to the building.

The developers envision the block as a ‘testament to the town’s regeneration’.

However, not everyone in Oldham is on board with this vision. Survey data collected for Muse reveals that out of the 53 respondents, 49% expressed disagreement or strong disagreement with the Civic Centre tower plans, while 32% remained neutral and some 19% agreed or strongly agreed with the proposals.

Critics reportedly voiced their uncertainty about whether a hotel was the best use for the site, particularly after several hotels in the town centre were forced to shut down in recent years. Some even labelled the building an ‘eyesore’.