We are working on a very ambitious programme of economic, social and environmental projects throughout the borough that form the basis of the Borough’s Regeneration Strategy - the 'Oldham Beyond Implementation Plan'. There is also a Regeneration Activity map that shows the location and boundaries of the main programmes and projects and demonstrates their spatial links and connections.
Link to Interactive Mapping site.
The main Regeneration Activities within the Borough are listed below (more information on each of the activities can be found by clicking on the links shown).
Borough Boundary
Oldham Metropolitan Borough is located on the east side of Greater Manchester with a diverse population of c 220,000 residents. There are a number of communities in an urban setting in the west of the Borough, with two thirds of the Borough having open green space extending eastwards to the Saddleworth villages and the high moors of the Peak District National Park.
For more information about Regeneration in Oldham please click on the links below:
Oldham Beyond Implementation Plan (the Borough Regeneration Strategy) - document will be available in the near future
Oldham Info
Housing Market Renewal
Oldham and Rochdale have joint pathfinder status for a Housing Market Renewal Programme which is a government funded programme of housing regeneration work to improve the housing in parts of both of the Boroughs. It is a 15 year programme commencing in 2004.
Click here for more information on Oldham and Rochdale HMR
Housing PFI 4 - Gateways to Oldham
This project involves the regeneration of three social housing estates in the Borough ,Clarkwell, Crossley and Primrose Bank. Government gave approval to the Council’s Business Case in 2007 and allocated £131 million to the redevelopment of these three ‘gateways’ on main routes in the Borough.
Building Schools for the Future (BSF)
The borough has received Government approval to be in wave 4 of the national programme to renew secondary schools. The total programme is £202 million and will commence in 2009 with many of the Borough’s schools replaced or significantly improved by completion in 2013.
Click here for more information on the Oldham BSF programme.
University Centre Oldham (UCO)
The Borough achieved University status in 2005 with the establishing of the University Centre Oldham, a joint venture with Huddersfield University. This has been very successful with new students recruitment beyond targets and the construction of an additional 3,000 sq m building in 2008.
Click on the following link for more information on UCO.
Primary Health Care – LIFT Programme
The Oldham Primary Care Trust has commenced a major regeneration programme to replace and provide new health centres in the Borough. A private finance partnership has been establishedunder the Governments LIFT (Local Investment Finance Trust) Programme. The partnership in the Borough is Community 1st Oldham LTD.
Click on the following links for more information Oldham NHS Trust, 'LIFT' in Oldham, Community 1st Oldham.co.uk
Metrolink
Approval has been granted fro the conversion of the Oldham /Rochdale heavy rail line to be converted to a high speed tram route as an extension of Manchester’s Metrolink. Work is starting in 2008 with a three year construction programme. A bid for additional funding is being considered by government which will enable the Metrolink to be constructed through Oldham and Rochdale town centres.
Click on the following links here for more information Metrolink, News on Metrolink.
Motorways
The Borough has excellent motorway links with the M60 outer Manchester ring road in the west of the urban area and the M62 in the north of the borough providing access both to east and west coasts and north/south including 20 minutes drive time to Manchester International Airport.
Click here for more information on Manchester International Airport.
New Deal for Communities
New Deal for Communites is a government programme to regenerate deprived communities in England. The Borough Council was successful in its bid for Hathershaw and Fitton Hill to receive this status from 2001. It is a ten year programme of initiatives to improve this area supported by £50 million of additional funding and led by a Board of residents and key partners.
Click on the following link for more information on the NDC website.
Oldham Town Centre
This is the main centre for public administration, shopping, business offices, leisure provision and Further Education and Higher Education for the Borough. There has been large scale investment in new buildings and improved environment over a number of years and this is continuing with major plans for extensions to the shopping centres, new offices, the colleges and new leisure facilities for the Borough’s residents.
Click on the following link for more information Oldham Beyond Projects.
West End Masterplan
This part of the Oldham Town centre is the existing location for the Borough’s Further and Higher Education colleges and centres. It has been the subject of a wide ranging masterplan to identify how the area could be better used for expansion of the colleges and the University centre Oldham as well as a relocated Coliseum theatre.
Click on the following link for more information West End Masterplan.
Mumps Masterplan
‘Mumps’ is an important location at the eastern end of Oldham Town centre at the intersection of a number of main roads and bus and rail (Metrolink) routes. A masterplanning exercise has identified ways in which the area can be improved and regenerated including development of new apartments for town centre living and the creation of new space for businesses, within easy access of the proposed bus/metrolink interchange and remodelled ‘Mumps’ road junction.
Town and District Centres
The largest Town centre in the Borough is Oldham which has the key local government functions and the major retailing, leisure and business district in the Borough. There are also a number of other important varied and thriving town centres that provide both local services and are all being improved as focal points for their communities. These include Failsworth, Chadderton, Royton, Crompton/Shaw, Huddersfield Road, Lees and Uppermill.
Click on the following link for more information Oldham Beyond Vision.
Hollinwood Business District
Located at the junction of the M60 and the A62, Manchester Road, the area will become the premier Business location in the Borough. A masterplanning scheme has identified how the area will be transformed over the next few years providing new business offices and high quality environment. New employment opportunities for the Borough’s residents is the main objective which is demonstrated by the completion of the HQ building for NCHA and the Hollinwood Business Centre.
Click on the following link for more information on Hollinwood Masterplan.
Chadderton Technology Park
This is an existing employment area near the Oldham Town centre that is well connected to the major road and Metrolink routes in the west of the Borough. It is already the location of Zetex a global designer and manufacturer of semi conductors. The plans are to revitalise the area by creating new sites through land assembly and relocating inappropriate uses at the same time as improving the public realm. New developments expect to include an Innovation Centre and the development of a high technology recycling centre.
Click on the following link for more information on Chadderton Technology Park.
Oldham Broadway Business Park and other Major regional Business Parks
Oldham Broadway has been the Borough’s premier Business Park for a number of years with a steady supply of new offices and business units being developed. Two schemes to create new offices in a campus style development and new distribution centres are being developed during 2008. The Borough is fortunate to have three other major business developments on its boundary with Kingsway in Rochdale, Ashton Moss in Tameside and Central Manchester Business Park in East Manchester.
Click on the following link for more information on Business Parks.
Saddleworth Business Centres
A number of new or refurbished business space developments have been created in the last few years within the Pennine towns of Saddleworth. In particular Delph now has 3 Business Centres providing a variety of units for small and medium sized businesses. These satisfy the growing need for business to be located near peoples homes but also having the advantage of a rural environment.
Click on the following links for more information on Saddleworth Business Centre, Meridian Developments, Business Centres in Oldham.
Oldham Coliseum
The Borough is fortunate to have a Theatre of national profile which is renowned for its productions. There is ambition to relocate the Theatre into a new home to enable the Theatre’s activities to extend further in the community and strengthen the existing links with the colleges and University Centre.
Click on the following link for more information on Oldham Coliseum.
Oldham Athletic
The Borough’s top football club has a long and proud tradition and has exciting plans to transform their home, Boundary Park, with a major redevelopment of the stadium and the adjoining land.
Click on the following links for more information on Oldham Athletic Redevelopment, Oldham Beyond 1000 Days Campaign.
Peak District National Park
Twenty Two per cent of the eastern side of the Borough is high moorland within the Peak Park providing magnificent high quality landscape and leisure opportunities in the Borough.
Click here for more information on the Peak District National Park Authority.
Pennine Edge Forest
The Borough is a partner in a Community Forest programme called Pennine Edge Forest, shared with the adjoining Boroughs of Rochdale, Tameside and Stockport. A wide range of environmental projects including Leesbrook Park are being undertaken and planned.
Click here for more information on the Pennine Edge Forest page.
Canals
Two of the regions important historic cross-pennine canals traverse the Borough, the Rochdale canal and the Huddersfield Canal. Both have been fully restored to navigation and provide high quality regeneration corridors through the urban core and rural areas of the Borough.
Use the links below to get more information on Canals:
British Waterways, Huddersfield Canal Society, Rochdale Canal Society, The Waterways Trust, Pennine Waterways.
Leisure Projects
A number of leisure projects are being planned within the Borough, both by the public and private sectors. These include improvements to the Saddleworth swimming Pool and the construction of a new pool and sports studios at Chadderton as part of the new ‘Well being Centre’. Plans are being developed for major schemes in Royton and Oldham Town Centre as well as other locations.
Libraries
Oldham Council has recently undertaken a review of its Library service and has plans to renew and improve many of its local Libraries particularly where they may be part of developments to provide better joined up services within the smaller town centres. The new central Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, next to the new Gallery in Oldham Town centre has transformed the quality and range of service to the Borough’s residents.