Oldham Council’s cabinet is set to sign off a 15-year framework for the residential-led regeneration of the town centre. Proposals for the first 295 homes are currently being drawn up.
The council, alongside Muse, has put together a plan to create 2,000 homes across several brownfield sites in the town centre.
The first site will be Princes Gate, where Muse plans to deliver three blocks containing just under 300 flats. A planning application will be submitted in early 2025 with work planned to start in Q4. The site was originally earmarked for a supermarket and hotel but the agreement was terminated back in 2023.
Following a consultation on the regeneration plans in the summer, the development framework will now go before the Oldham Council cabinet for adoption. Once adopted, the council’s planning committee will use the framework when considering planning applications in the five key areas of the town that are earmarked for regeneration.
The framework aims to deliver a range of homes, to buy and to rent, located within safe, inclusive and attractive neighbourhoods that everyone can enjoy. The aim is to create a town centre with character, thousands of new homes and an emphasis on sustainability, community and quality, which, in turn, will deliver more local jobs and learning opportunities for local residents.
These areas are:
- The Civic and Residential Quarter
- The Retail Core
- The Cultural & Creative Quarter
- Eastern Edge and Oldham Mumps, and Western Edge and Educational Quarter
Councillor Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, said: “I’m thrilled that we are forging ahead with these exciting, ambitious, and truly game-changing plans to create a town centre for future generations to live in.”
Phil Mayall, managing director at Muse, added: “We want Oldham to be a hub for successful local businesses, a destination characterised by quality homes, leisure and outdoor spaces, and a family-friendly place that reflects its heritage as a thriving northern town.
“Working together with residents, businesses, local community groups, educational institutions, regional partners and charitable organisations will be fundamental to unlocking a framework that captures the essence of the town and its local community in order to deliver the new homes Oldham needs.”
The project team providing advice for the 2,000-home master plan includes Hawkins Brown, Planit, Donald Insall Associates, Turley, Social Value Portal, CBRE, Arcadis, Max Fordham, WSP, and Civic Engineers.
