Oldham sets housing strategy for 3,000 homes

The council’s Housing Delivery Strategy outlines residential plans for more than 20 council-owned sites throughout the borough and identifies key sites for development.

As part of the strategy, Oldham Council’s cabinet approved the disposal of three plots of Land in Derker to Hive Homes. This will enable the developer to build 44 affordable and 90 market sale homes, each of which will be built to either carbon-neutral or low-carbon standards. The entire development will be gas-free, according to the council.

The cabinet also agreed to launch a competitive land sale for the former Oldham Mumps railway station site, noting that the land could have up to 150 houses and apartments. The council aims to select a developer partner for the project by 30 June, with planning applications submitted in September.

Oldham highlighted three other sites earmarked for development: the former Kaskenmoor School, Limehurst Village, and former South Chadderton School. Both of the former school locations could have up to 150 homes, according to the council. The Limehurst Village site is suitable for 112.

The council is not ignoring the town centre, stating that it will support the delivery of up to 2,000 homes in the area including at the Civic Centre, former Magistrates’ Court and Oldham Leisure Centre sites.

“Oldham needs many more quality, modern, affordable homes and as a council we are investing in making this happen,” said Cllr Hannah Roberts, Oldham’s cabinet member for housing.

Oldham’s Housing Delivery Strategy lalso ists seven smaller brownfield sites that are cleared and ready for development: Lancaster House in Royton, Dew Way in Coldhurst, Flint Street in Derker, James Street in Failsworth, Wellington Street in Chadderton, Estate Street in Hathershaw, and Farm Road in Limehurst.

The council said it would build up to 43 accessible and adaptable homes across those sites. The envisaged homes would be a mix of bungalows and houses with a range of two to four bedrooms. The homes would be either low or zero carbon. They would be available for affordable rent through the Housing Register.

Funding for the affordable homes is coming from a Homes England Grant and resources from the Housing Revenue Account. The council said that the money would be repaid using rents received in the future.

“We are proud to be transforming brownfield sites across the borough to give people the much-needed homes they need, whatever their personal circumstances,” Roberts said.

“In doing so we can safeguard the Green Belt from unnecessary development and breathe new life into vacant and disused sites.”

“We look forward to delivering these homes alongside our partners and welcoming people into their new homes soon.”