Last bank in Failsworth turned into flats

Failsworth’s last bank will be transformed into seven one-bedroom apartments and a co-working lounge.

The former Natwest branch on 794 Oldham Road closed down in 2024. It’s stood vacant ever since, but now there are plans to bring the building on the corner of Lomas St back into use.  

Oldham Council have greenlit plans by developer Obinna Mezi from MZU Properties Ltd to turn the run-down structure into nine new flats and shared office space, which town planners say will ‘quickly help boost housing supply’. 

Designs submitted by Had & Co on behalf of the London developer show the ground floor carved into three apartments and a work space with around four desks, and the upper floor into six new flats.

The former shop windows will be ‘re-purposed’ to suit the layout of the apartments, which will feature a bedroom, bathroom and narrow open-plan kitchen/living/dining area.

Two new windows will also be installed in the eastern wall to ensure all dwellings get enough natural light.

Mr Mezu previously received approval for another ‘Change of Use’ application for the same address, which proposed turning the building into seven apartments. This was because part of the building was initially marked as ‘no access’.

Planning officer Abiola Labisi said of the current plans: “The proposal would lead to the formation of nine dwellings on the site thus contributing to the local housing stock. Furthermore, given the relatively small size of the site, it is likely that the development can be implemented quickly and thus increasing housing stock faster.”

On the earlier application, he also noted the building has ‘excellent access to public transport and is well served by local facilities’. 

As the building has been vacant for more than three months, is deemed unlikely to cause extra traffic and congestion issues, and would meet nationally described space standards, the officers had no reason to oppose prior approval. The change will see the building transitioned out of commercial use.

The Natwest branch closed its doors in October 2024, leaving Failsworth without a single local bank. The nearest services by public transport are now in Oldham town centre or Manchester city centre; or Ashton-under-Lyne by car.

NatWest Group, which consists of NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, has closed more than a thousand (1,431) branches since 2015, according to analysis from Which? Experts. At the time of the Failsworth closure, a spokesperson claimed the slashing of branches was due to rising numbers of NatWest customers using online banking services.

The building, which has been stripped of its signage and former ATMs, was listed for £320k on Cushman & Wakefield estate agents last year.