Long-term lease to secure future of Mossley Community Centre

The future of Mossley Community Centre has been secured after Tameside Council put forward plans to agree a new long-term lease with the building’s trustees.

The proposal, approved by the council’s Executive Cabinet, will see a 25-year lease granted, ensuring the centre remains a dedicated community facility serving residents for decades to come.

Used by more than 600 people each week, the centre plays a vital role in supporting inclusion, social connection and wellbeing in Mossley, offering a wide range of activities and services for people of all ages.

As part of its responsibilities as landlord, the council will also invest £25,000 into essential compliance and maintenance works. The improvements are designed to ensure the building remains safe, functional and fit for purpose, allowing trustees to focus on expanding community use of the space.

The new lease agreement includes a restrictive user clause, safeguarding the building’s role as a hub for social and recreational activities for the benefit of the public.

Alongside the lease, the council has committed to working closely with trustees to support applications for external funding, helping to unlock further upgrades and improvements in the future.

Councillor Hugh Roderick, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Finance and Resources, said: “Mossley Community Centre is a much-valued space that brings people together and supports residents of all ages. Renewing the lease is an important step in safeguarding its future as a community hub.

“We want to fulfil our responsibilities as landlord and to work with the trustees to ensure the centre remains a safe and welcoming place for years to come.”

Lesley Bill, Chair of Mossley Community Centre, welcomed the decision, saying the agreement brings long-awaited certainty.

She said: “After several years of uncertainty about its future, Mossley Community Centre is delighted that Tameside Council’s Cabinet has voted to award the association’s trustees a 25-year lease for the building, ensuring the centre’s place in the town for many more years.

“We’d like to thank everyone involved in renewing the lease. There has been a lot of hard work and negotiation behind the scenes, and it is fabulous to see the building will now get the long-term investment that it deserves - we can’t wait to see what’s to come.”