Our vision
Draft vision for Oldham Town Centre
Oldham is a young and diverse place, looking confidently to realising its potential as a great place to live, work and visit.
Our vision is to create a Town Centre with character, with thousands of new homes and an emphasis on sustainability, community and quality.
We want to acknowledge Oldham’s industrial heritage while looking towards a bright, modern future. The homes will be built in a safer and healthier environment, prioritising local jobs and learning opportunities for Oldhamers as part of the wider development of the areas. Our goal is to create an inclusive and welcoming place to live and spend time in, and we want to create the plan in conversation with you.
What is the Development Framework and why is it important?
The Development Framework is a document which will guide planning and development in Oldham town centre by setting out our vision for up to 2,000 new homes in the Town Centre across five Character Areas. It aims to deliver homes located within safe, inclusive and attractive neighbourhoods that everyone can enjoy. New homes to buy and to rent in the future will help us tackle the housing crisis locally, whilst also setting out social value principles that will help us to increase environmental sustainability, promote equality and improve wellbeing.
The final document, which includes your feedback from the community conversation, was endorsed by Oldham Council’s Cabinet on Monday 18th November 2024. It will now be used by the Planning Committee when they are considering planning applications that are brought forward in these areas of the town.
In this document, you can read more about:
How the vision will take shape
Where the sites for new houses are located across the town centre
What principles are behind the development of each of the sites
How we will design the scheme to reflect the local character of the town
An illustrative plan that shows how the development as a whole might look
Extensive progress has been made by the Council in regenerating Oldham Town Centre over recent years. This Development Framework seeks to bring together various projects, plans and strategies to guide the next phases of generation by providing the following:
Development principles
A number of principles have been developed to help bring our vision for the Town Centre to life. To ensure consistency across the five Character Areas, any proposals to build something new in the future will need to include these principles in the plans to make sure that we are creating a place that works for all Oldhamers.
Access, movement and connectivity
Improving important walking and cycling routes into and within the Town Centre. This will help to continue the great work that is already being brought forward as part of the ‘Accessible Oldham’ programme. Other measures, such as improving roads, parking and signage in the town, would also be included.
Landscape and public realm
Providing more and improved green spaces in the town. This would include how we better connect existing, upcoming and future green spaces, to improve experiences for walkers and cyclists too.
Sustainability
A document that we are calling the ‘Sustainability Framework’ will set out guidelines and targets to make sure development proposals are environmentally sustainable. This will include reducing carbon emissions, recycling and reusing materials, and improving energy efficiency.
Meanwhile uses
As the delivery of this vision will take place across multiple phases a supporting ‘Meanwhile Use’ strategy will help to make sure that any vacant or unused locations within the area can support temporary uses before they are built on. This strategy will focus on opportunities for art and culture, wellness, community and commercial spaces.
Social value
Another document that we are calling the ‘Social Value Charter’ will help to make sure that any development will aim to improve the lifestyle of every Oldham resident with social, environmental and economic improvements for the area.
Our vision
Our vision for the site shows how the proposed development principles could be applied across the Town Centre over the next 15 years, to create a vibrant and inclusive place. This will help to create a thriving place that people want to live and spend time in, and which reflects the culturally diverse communities across Oldham.
Proposed Illustrative Masterplan document
Five Character Areas
To help deliver this vision, our plans for new housing are centred on what we are calling five Character Areas in the Town Centre. These areas are brownfield sites, which is a term used for areas that have previously been developed. Within the Character Areas, there are a number of opportunity sites that could be developed to help achieve our vision for the Town Centre.
Aerial of Oldham Town Centre showing proposed Five Character Areas
Core and opportunity sites
Within the Five Character Areas, there are a series of opportunity sites that will contribute to achieving the vision, priorities and strategic objectives for the town.
What’s next?
Complete – Summer 2024
Public conversation
Complete – Late summer 2024
Review of conversation feedback and updates made to the Development Framework
Complete – Autumn 2024
Final Development Framework endorsed by Oldham Council on Monday 18th November 2024
Early 2025
Planning applications begin to be brought forward within the Development Framework area (more information will be made available on this website)
