Huge plans announced to transform Oldham’s Boundary Park and the area into £70million campus

Huge new plans have been announced to transform Oldham’s Boundary Park and the area into a £70million campus.

A £70 million project has been unveiled to transform its surrounding area into a state-of-the-art “SportsTown” campus.

This ambitious project is a collaboration between Oldham Athletic, Oldham Council, and Oldham Rugby League Football Club, aiming to revolutionise sports, education, health, and wellbeing in the borough.

The development includes expanding Boundary Park with new sports facilities, such as a 3G pitch and a proposed 3,000-seat netball stadium, alongside a sports and health campus.

It’s not just about sports, though, there’s a big focus on education and opportunity, with plans for higher and further education programs in health and sport to attract and retain students in Oldham.

Oldham Athletic chief executive Darren Royle said the aim was to address a “brain drain” in the town by creating a centre that could keep students in the town, a legacy for young people.

The project kicked off with a £5 million investment from the government’s Community Regeneration Fund, building on a previous £1 million from the council for a new pitch.

The hope is to draw in private investment to fully realise the £70 million vision, a bold move to put Oldham on the map, blending its rich sporting history with modern facilities and community benefits.

✨ The first part of shaping a bright future. #oafc pic.twitter.com/arY5AsqEGF

— Oldham Athletic (@OfficialOAFC) March 17, 2025

🎉A £5 million investment has been secured to kickstart SportsTown. 🏉@shah_arooj , Leader of Oldham Council, said:

“SportsTown will inspire Oldhamers to aim high, create real educational and career opportunities, and boost our local economy.”https://t.co/bFy0HWsO4R pic.twitter.com/S2V4RLurp0

— Oldham Council (@OldhamCouncil) March 17, 2025

🤝 Working together on the first stages of SportsTown. #oafc pic.twitter.com/QiKTuRYS9G

— Oldham Athletic (@OfficialOAFC) March 18, 2025

STATEMENT:

A major £5 million investment has been unveiled to kickstart SportsTown, an ambitious and transformative £70 million sports, education, health and wellbeing campus in Oldham.

Centred around Boundary Park, SportsTown will deliver state-of-the-art sporting, health and educational facilities, transforming opportunities for local people and laying the foundations for a new era for sport in the borough.

SportsTown also aims to support local health and well-being by providing essential services and much-needed additional facilities on-site.

The cash boost comes from the Government’s Community Regeneration Fund and builds on £1 million previously invested by Oldham Council, which funded a new playing surface at Boundary Park, securing a permanent home for Oldham RLFC and opening up high-quality facilities to the wider community.

Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “SportsTown is another example of the power of collaboration and our shared ambitions to create opportunities for our residents.

“This exciting development will inspire Oldhamers to aim high and achieve their full potential. It creates real educational and career opportunities in sports, health and related fields for our residents while giving our local economy a welcome boost.

“This is just the start for SportsTown which builds on Oldham’s sporting history and shows how we will maximise every opportunity for the next generation, ensuring our communities can grow and lead healthier, happier lives.”

Frank Rothwell, owner of Boundary Park and Chairman of National League side Oldham Athletic AFC, said: “Oldham has always punched above its weight in sport, and we’re not stopping now!

“This funding is going to set things in motion for something truly game-changing. We’re not here to mess about – we’re here to build a legacy, give young people real opportunities, and put Oldham on the map for sport, health, and education. This is just the beginning, and trust me, we’re going to make it happen!”

Darren Royle, Chief Executive of Oldham Athletic AFC, added: “SportsTown provides an innovative response to the Oldham Economic Review Board and Oldham Economic and Skills Strategy findings. By harnessing the power of sport, health, wellness, business and education we are moving forwards by creating a unique Further and Higher Education opportunity for the young people of Greater Manchester and beyond.

“The four main sports pathways of football, rugby, netball and cricket will be followed by more opportunities for the Town of Oldham working in tandem with our strategic partners.”

Bill Quinn, Chairman of Oldham RLFC, said: “Next year marks 150 years of Oldham RLFC – a huge milestone for our club and our town. Having a permanent home at Boundary Park is a game-changer, giving our players, fans, and community a place to be proud of.

“SportsTown is exactly what Oldham needs – bringing in investment, creating opportunities, and making sure Oldham remains a powerhouse in rugby and beyond.”

Oldham has a proud sporting history and this investment will build on that legacy by creating new opportunities for future generations.

This £5 million investment is just the beginning and will act as a springboard for further investment to realise the full SportsTown vision.

MP Jim McMahon: “Today, the Oldham SportsTown project officially launches. As part of the Community Regeneration Partnership, the SportsTown masterplan represents a huge investment into local sports and educational pathways centred at Boundary Park.

“The £70 million masterplan, which covers a frootprint the size of the Etihad Stadium, will be a multi-sports centre of excellence from grassroots sport for all the way up to elite performance Further & Higher Education sports academies.

“The existing community facilities will undertake transformational growth through the new 3,000 seat stand, university centre, wellness suite, 4,000 seat multi-sport arena, outdoor 3G sports domes, and upgraded grass pitches.

“Around 25,000 residents from the northern Greater Manchester will use the SportsTown facilities once per week, with 60% being Oldham residents and the majority being young people; using a non-traditional university strategy based on community family engagement through education and sport.

“At the general election, I prioritised community ownership for local people in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton. The work we have done locally to secure Boundary Park as an Asset of Community Value, has created a foundation to build upon, resulting in stable ownership for Latics, a ground sharing deal between them and Oldham RLFC to secure the future of the ground, and now the launch of SportsTown in and around the venue.
The ownership of the club by the Rothwell family and the energy and dedication they have injected into the project, aided faithfully by the leadership of CEO Darren Royle has breathed new life into the club and stadium.

“In addition to this fantastic scheme there are also projects to support grassroots and community sports facilities which I am determined to see get the support and funding they need. The need and demand in the community is clear, and in both AVRO FC at Limeside and West End pitches at Coldhurst there is huge opportunity we have got to get behind.”

Twitter users reacted to huge plans announced to transform Oldham’s Boundary Park and the area into £70million campus…

@Tommy_Oldham1: Priority is getting our EFL status back, but in the long run this is a good idea the fact Leigh, Bury etc have sports Villages and Oldham don’t especially in a era where so many playing fields have been sold off or not maintained. However I am still cautious having seen the club let down In the past by the council although it does seem the Rothwells have built up a good relationship with them. The final thing is having these facilities are good young players need a pathway into the first team. While it may look good however top of the range they are we are still competing with both Manchester clubs, Leeds, Liverpool. A main positive it’s been a great assest for the community if it gets built and managed properly by sporting minded people.

@Jesevi01: Wow what a difference three years can make. From no hot water and shut stands to announcing a potential 70M sports campus for the town based around BP. The Rothwells have transformed the trajectory of this club 180* in 3 years. 👏👏👏

@ChrisJStott19: Amazing news , looking forward to the full brief later #oafc 😀

@dean_hutchings: Fantastic but win football matches please

@oafc24: Good stuff for the town

@mr_rickus: This is great! Do we know if Boundary Park itself will have any regeneration or rebuild? The main stand is looking a bit shabby in places……

@jjreade: Ridiculously exciting development for the town of Oldham, and for sport in Oldham. #oafc

@Tjordan_96: Pretty huge stuff, if results since new year had been better, the buzz around this would be crazy, massive for the community too 💙 big push lads! #oafc

@ChrisJStott19: Today’s announcement can only be great news for the town and the club surely. Hopefully this will be the catalyst for the further investment needed. Now lets nail promotion #oafc

@themantonhoward: This development will be great for the community and larger picture for Oldham as a town, but the average fan would just prefer it if we won football matches. #oafc

@realwilliamlees: Really not sure how today’s announcement can be spun as a negative for the town and its football club. A scruffy car park being turned into a modern sports complex? Yes, please #oafc

@LaticsPaul: Only just caught up on it all today. Mixed emotions tbf as it sounds a pipe dream, years away. The council using the club, the club being taken for mugs? Losing land and how much gaining? If not then amazing. Invest in the football team and get out of this league first tho #oafc