Consultation

Local Plan Review – The Oldham Local Plan: Publication Plan

CONSULTATION PERIOD EXTENDED TO FRIDAY 27 MARCH 2026

Representations are now being invited on the Oldham Local Plan: Publication between Wednesday 4 February 2026 to 11.59pm on Friday 27 March 2026.

The Publication Plan follows on from the Draft Local Plan consultation that was carried out in early 2024.

The Plan contains a vision for Oldham, a set of plan objectives and non-strategic planning policies covering a wide range of topic areas including housing, open land, centres, our economy, climate change, design, transportation and our communities.

Planning affects many aspects of our lives and our environment – from where we live, work, shop and how we spend our leisure time. In producing this Local Plan, we are not just considering land uses, but we are also considering other issues that can be affected by land use, including health, education and community safety.

This document is called the ‘Oldham Local Plan: Publication Plan’ (‘Publication Plan’) and is the final draft Local Plan that is consulted on prior to submission of the Local Plan to the Secretary of State for independent examination

It has been informed by comments collected from past consultations – the Regulation 18 Notification, Issues and Options and Draft Local Plan, as well as supporting evidence.

Please view the Statement of Representation Procedure for details of the consultation and how to submit your representations.

 

House in Multiple Occupation Article 4 Direction

On the 22 September 2025 Oldham Council decided to consult on the introduction of a boroughwide non-immediate Article 4 Direction removing the permitted development right to convert a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (Use Class C4) for up to six residents (small HMO). 

Public consultation was held between 6 October 2025 and 16 November 2025. 

Having taken account of representations received, on 15 December 2025 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, confirmed with effect from 1 January 2026, the Non-Immediate Article 4(1) Direction made on 22 September 2025 under Article 4(1) of the 2015 Order.

The Article 4 Direction came into effect on 1 January 2026. This means that such conversions are no longer permitted development in the borough of OIdham and require planning permission.

You can view the Article 4 Direction Notice, the Sealed Article 4 Direction, and the Background (evidence) Document below:

Please note, this Article 4 Direction does not affect conversions of dwellings to HMOs for seven or more residents (large HMO), or for new build HMOs or those created from other changes of use or conversions (that is, those other than from dwellinghouses). These forms of development continue to require planning permission.

The introduction of an Article 4 Direction does not mean a planning application for a small HMO would be automatically refused. It does, however, allow for the proper consideration of the effects of a proposed HMO on an area's amenity and local community, before issuing any planning permission. In doing so, we will be able to influence the quality of the HMO through the planning process.

 

Data Protection

Details of our core data protection and commitments are set out in the council's primary privacy notice and service privacy notice for Strategic Planning and Information are both available on the council's data protection web pages.

Join or leave our mailing list

The Local Plan helps to guide and manage future growth and development so we can meet the needs of the borough and its population.

It contains planning policies that will be used as the basis for determining planning applications and identifies sites where developments should be built, as well as areas for protection.

To join or leave the mailing list please email:

Please note

  • Oldham Council is fully committed to compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.
  • Comments cannot be treated as confidential.
  • Personal information provided as part of a representation cannot be treated as confidential as the Council is obliged to make all representations available for public inspection.
  • If you choose to make a representation you will be regarded by the Council as having consented to that representation being made available for public inspection.
  • All comments received will also be made available via the internet, along with the name of the person who submitted them.
  • Your address will not generally be available via the internet if you submit your comments electronically.
  • In addition, you should note that any documents, plans etc, you submit to accompany your comments may also be made available via the internet.
  • If we receive supporting documents containing email addresses, telephone numbers or signatures, we will endeavour to remove them. If your postal address is shown on any accompanying documents provided, though, then this will also be accessible via the internet.