A landmark project to unite Oldham town centre's cultural "jewels", including plans for a new Heritage Centre and Coliseum Theatre, have been granted development funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The HLF grant of £615,000 will support a later second-stage bid for a full £3.9m grant.

The council-led plans involve a new Oldham Heritage Centre being housed in the former Oldham Library and an Art Gallery on Union Street.

A separate application to the Arts Council England Fund is seeking a grant towards a new build Oldham Coliseum Theatre, including a state of the art auditorium.

Oldham Council leader, Jim McMahon, says that heritage will be the foundation stone to rebuild Oldham: “The wider regeneration scheme we're planning here is inspiring, because it will bring all our cultural jewels together in one integrated facility. That will significantly enhance our leisure, arts and heritage offer and provide yet another significant catalyst for wider regeneration of our town centre.”

Head of NLF North West Sara Hilton says: “Oldham has a fascinating industrial past and these innovative plans for a heritage resource centre will help bring that story to a whole new audience.”

Separate to this, there are also plans for the Old Town Hall to become a cinema, with restaurants and cafes.