Residents in Greater Manchester town invited to have their say on the next decade

Oldham Council wants residents to ‘have their say’ on plans for the district’s future. The Oldham community will be able to influence the way the council makes planning decisions for the next 15 years by responding to a Local Plan.

Once finalised, the plan will guide the council’s choices about housing, the local economy and community facilities until 2039. Residents can make comments online or at drop-in sessions until Wednesday, 21 February. 

The plan is currently in a draft stage after previous consultations in 2017 and 2021. The comments will be used to tweak the policies before it is finalised and published. 

Cllr Elaine Taylor, Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing, said: “The Local Plan is a really important document that will shape the future of Oldham for the next 15 years, including how we make decisions on planning applications.  

“The home you live in, the building where you work, your local supermarket – all of these developments at some point will have been through the planning process. 

“Planning affects many aspects of our lives, and this consultation is an opportunity for you to tell us what you think about the policies in the Draft Plan and to help shape the future of your town.” 

The document covers different aspects of council planning considerations, including  climate change and flood risk, transport, employment and town centres. Councillors will use the final plan to help guide their decisions about proposals, meaning it will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the district. 

Currently, the draft plan pushes for more homes and education centres in Oldham town centre, alongside the creation of Jubilee Park, a new green space on the site of the former Oldham Sports Centre. There is also a proposed ban on new developments on floodplains and on Oldham’s Green Belt except in ‘very special circumstances’. 

It includes policies such as approving more proposals for small shops and services in residential areas to “contribute towards vibrant communities by providing facilities near people’s homes”. 

And other policies include prioritising pedestrian and cycle travel when building highways, increasing the number of wildlife species in the area and enforcing a ‘design criteria’ on sky rises. Tall and landmark buildings will only be approved if they ‘make a positive contribution to the skyline and image of Oldham’ 

The plan will sit under the GMCA’s ‘Places for Everyone’ project, a long-term plan for nine Greater Manchester councils on jobs, homes and sustainable growth across the region. 

Under the masterplan Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Rochdale, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan Councils are committing to ‘maximalising the use of brownfield land and urban spaces while protecting green belt land’. 

Residents can view the draft and submit their comments using the council’s ‘The Big Oldham Convo’ portal or email them to [email protected]. 

The council will also host in-person meetings, which they’ll advertise on their planning site ,and accept comments via post addressed to ‘Strategic Planning and Information’ at the town hall address.