Hive Projects is proud to announce the successful handover of the new Visitor Centre and Forestry Skills Centre at Northern Roots, Oldham, set to become the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park.
Acting as Project Manager on behalf of Oldham Council, Hive Projects oversaw the delivery of this flagship £11.4m development from early-stage coordination through to final completion. Procured via the Procure Partnerships Framework, the new gateway facilities anchor the transformation of 160 acres of underused green space adjacent to Alexandra Park into a landmark destination for nature, health, enterprise, and vocational learning.
Set within newly created woodland featuring 2,000 newly planted trees and six ponds, the 1,155m² scheme comprises two low-carbon buildings designed around visitors, learners, and the surrounding landscape:
The Welcome Centre: A two-storey building housing a community café, shop, production kitchen, and flexible spaces for school visits, exhibitions, and local events.
The Forestry Skills Centre: A dedicated vocational training facility supporting landscape management, crop growing, and land-based skills development.
Low-Carbon Architecture: Constructed using a low-carbon glulam timber frame, the scheme targets Net Zero Carbon in Operation and serves as an active learning resource demonstrating low-carbon technologies.
Sensitive Site Delivery: Careful project sequencing protected existing ecological habitats and biodiversity throughout construction in the parkland setting.
In alignment with Hive Projects’ commitment to embedding social value across public sector capital projects, the scheme generated significant social and economic benefits for the local Oldham community:
340 hours invested in supporting unemployed local residents into work.
103 weeks of hands-on placements delivered for apprentices and T-Level students.
160 hours spent engaging with local schools and colleges to inspire the next generation.
Direct Employment: Eight Oldham residents were employed on the project, five of whom were previously unemployed.
Project Team Partners
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