Northern Roots

Hive Projects provided project management for the £11.4m Northern Roots development, a landmark 160-acre eco-park targeting Net Zero Carbon in Operation.

Northern Roots in Oldham is the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park. Set across 160 acres next to Alexandra Park, it turns underused green space into a landmark asset for health, learning, sustainable enterprise and community life.

Hive Projects provided project management for the £11.4m scheme, delivered under the Procure Partnerships Framework. The buildings were handed over to Oldham Council and the Northern Roots charity in summer 2026, ahead of the public launch in September 2026.

A 1,155m² two-storey Welcome Centre, with a community café, retail shop, production kitchen and flexible spaces for school visits, exhibitions, events and performances.

A Forestry Skills Centre, a dedicated vocational training facility supporting hands-on learning in landscape management, forestry, crop growing and land-based skills.

Both buildings are built around a low-carbon glulam timber frame, targeting Net Zero Carbon in Operation. Working in a live parkland setting, the team sequenced the works carefully to protect existing habitats, including newly created woodland of 2,000 trees and six biodiversity ponds.

Our role covered contract administration and governance under the framework, and acting as the central link between Oldham Council, the Northern Roots charity and the wider delivery team: Willmott Dixon (main contractor), jmarchitects, Fairhurst Group, Tace Manchester, Turner & Townsend and Rider Levett Bucknall.

 “This is an exciting milestone for both the project and for Oldham. These fantastic new facilities bring us one step closer to welcoming local residents and visitors from across Oldham and further afield. Together with Alexandra Park next door, it will create one of the borough’s most exciting green destinations, attracting visitors, supporting jobs and helping more people connect with nature.” James Kington, Director of Growth, Oldham Council

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