DENTON Festival Hall has temporarily closed to undergo a redevelopment into a mix of residential and community space.
The move comes after Tameside Council secured £16.8 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund, with £2 million of that set aside for the future of the Peel Street building.
The local authority says the money will be used to prepare the building for redevelopment, with the Festival Hall retained as part of a wider scheme to “best meet the town’s needs”.
The closure of the building from Friday, August 29, will allow work to begin ahead of marketing the site to a private development partner.
Council chiefs say this is the first step towards delivering a “sustainable future” for the historic venue, which has not been in full-time use for several years.
The authority has confirmed that community and voluntary groups who currently use the hall have been told about the changes, and alternative arrangements have been made.
Public toilets inside the hall have now closed, with alternative facilities available at Denton Town Hall on Market Street.
The Denton North East Luncheon Club is expected to go ahead with its next meeting on September 25 before the redevelopment begins.
The council’s deputy leader has said the plans offer a chance to secure the building’s long-term future.
“We respect the heritage of Denton Festival Hall and its value as a community venue,” said Councillor Andrew McLaren, who is also the Executive Member for Growth, Housing and Homelessness.
“However, the hall has not been in full time use for a number of years and – in its current format and condition – is an unsustainable drain on public funds. The Levelling Up money presents an exciting opportunity for us to work with a private developer to redevelop the building to secure its future to meet both residential and community needs.
“In the meantime, we’re working closely with current users of the building to ensure they can continue their valued work in the community during the temporary closure.”