Council to open door for community groups in Hollingworth

A former community hub in the centre of Hollingworth is set to be offered to local organisations, after Tameside Council confirmed it no longer has a use for the building.

Hollingworth Community Centre, a single-storey site on Market Street, was home to the First Longdendale Scouts for two decades before the group surrendered its lease earlier this year. The building has remained empty since, prompting questions from residents about its future.

Calls for more local facilities were raised during a recent Cabinet in the Community event, and the Council has now announced plans to declare the building “surplus to requirement” at its Cabinet meeting on 26 November 2025. If approved, the decision will pave the way for the authority to invite expressions of interest from community groups interested in taking on the building through a Community Asset Transfer (CAT).

A CAT allows a community organisation to lease the building from the Council for a nominal rent on a new 20- to 25-year lease. In return, the organisation becomes responsible for all occupational costs and must demonstrate that it can run the facility sustainably.

Councillor Hugh Roderick, Executive Member for Finance and Resources, said: “We know how important community spaces are for local people, and we’ve listened to the views given following the success of our recent Cabinet in the Community events. By offering this building through a Community Asset Transfer, we hope to give residents the chance to create something positive for Hollingworth. Any group taking this on will need a strong plan to make it sustainable, and we’re keen to see what ideas come forward.”

Once expressions of interest have been reviewed, shortlisted groups will be invited to submit a full application, including a detailed business case, setting out how they plan to use and maintain the building.

Community groups wishing to submit an expression of interest can contact alistair.russell@tameside.gov.uk.

Credit: Tameside Council