Future Plans
Oldham is changing. Over the next 10-15 years it will see unprecedented
levels of investment to bring about transformation in the economy, physical environment and the aspirations
and quality of life for the people of Oldham.
Oldham Council, together with its partners, are now looking beyond the
two initial Housing Market Renewal (HMR) Pathfinder Areas of Derker and Werneth/Freehold. The second
wave of strategic regeneration planning will focus on the southern half of the Borough’s urban area,
stretching from the east of Oldham town centre to Oldham Borough’s south-west boundary with Manchester.
The masterplanning framework process will need to present detailed interventions
that together will create sustainable urban neighbourhoods. It will also encompass a much more intensive
consultation process to engage and inspire local people, along with private sector developers who need
to regain confidence in the area as a place to invest.
The driving principles behind this study will be to:
- Create mixed and balanced communities to offer broader housing choice with
mixtures of densities, house types, tenures and designs.
- Increase the recognition of local centres as a focus for the local communities. Local
centres help to promote sustainability and community cohesion by being highly accessible on foot and
by public transport and therefore of great importance to the most vulnerable members of the community.
- Examine the issues of radial transport corridors. Within Oldham, the majority of
these radial routes contain some of the worst examples of obsolete and abandoned properties within the
Borough. They should be seen as an opportunity for commercial development and dramatically improve
access for both cars and public transport without either being at the expense of the other.
- Protect existing economic engines – Within the Borough there are a number of important
economic engines employing hundreds of local people. These businesses should be encouraged to
stay within the area and given every opportunity for expansion, redevelopment and growth wherever possible.
- Capitalise on key locations – There are two key locations within the Borough. These
are the town centre, which is considered an under-performing economic engine in terms of retail, office
and leisure provision and Hollinwood junction, a location of sub-regional importance, located only 10
minutes from Manchester city centre by Metrolink and 20 minutes from Manchester Airport, via the M60
orbital motorway.
- Create high quality environments – The provision of public open space within the Borough
should be not only be important in terms of local provision but should also provide strategic connections
to the open space network throughout the rest of the Borough.
The
completed framework will form the basis of our Housing Market Renewal Prospectus submission to the Office
of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) in summer 2005.