Historic mill could be turned into hotel – except it’s right next to a sewage plant

A plan to turn one of Oldham’s historic cotton mills into a hotel has been ‘recommended for approval’ by town planners.

The upper floors of Ram Mill on Gordon Street, Chadderton, could soon be turned into 180 hotel rooms if councillors approve the scheme at a planning meeting on Wednesday, February 11. 

After decades of being used for manufacturing and warehousing, the current owner, Javid Akbar, modernised the more than 120-year-old building in 2021. The ground floor is currently home to a number of new businesses and retailers.

But now the ‘underused’ upper floors could receive a new lease of life too. Akbar wants to create 75 double bedrooms for short-stays and 105 aparthotel units for short to medium-length stays. The aparthotels would be marketed at visiting businessmen and contractors, according to development papers. 

Alongside rooms, there would be dedicated flexible work areas, common rooms and service areas.

The mill is part of Oldham’s ‘historic mill stock’, and while it is not grade listed, is considered a ‘non-designated heritage asset of local significance’ with a ‘distinctive’ look. The building is located in the midst of an industrial area, flanked by a wastewater plant on one side and Halcyon Way School on the other. 

Town planners deem the proposal ‘acceptable in principle’ and have recommended elected members greenlight the project. 

“The proposal would bring underutilised floors of a prominent non-designated Heritage Asset back into active use, supporting its long-term conservation,” said a report by officer Stephen Gill. “The development would deliver significant economic benefits, including private investment, job creation and increased visitor expenditure, which weigh positively in the planning balance.” 

Councillors will discuss the project at a meeting next week, along with plans to build 149 new homes on the site of the former Collective Spirit Free School, and a six-bed HMO on Kevin Avenue in Royton.