2. Saddleworth Neighbourhood Plan
Saddleworth Parish Council submitted an application for the designation of Saddleworth Parish Council boundary as a neighbourhood area with the intention of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan. The application covered the whole parish area (an application was also made to the Peak District National Park Authority which covers part of the Parish Council area).
Feedback from Consultation
Consultation on the application to designate Saddleworth Parish Council boundary as a neighbourhood area took place from 19 August – 30 September 2016. In total fifteen representations were made, including one objection.
All of the representations were considered and discussed with the Peak District National Park Authority and Saddleworth Parish Council. It was considered that the appropriate boundary for the neighbourhood area was the Saddleworth Parish Council boundary.
To address the objection Saddleworth Parish Council have written a supporting letter which further justifies why the Parish Council boundary is considered appropriate to be designated as a neighbourhood area.
A summary of comments received and the supporting letter are available to view below.
Designation of neighbourhood area
The application to designate Saddleworth Parish Council boundary as a neighbourhood area was approved at Oldham Council Cabinet on Monday 21 November 2016. It was also approved at the Peak District National Park Authority Planning Committee on Friday 11 November 2016.
In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) the Council has publicised a decision notice and map setting out the following information.
(a) the name of the neighbourhood area;
(b) a map which identifies the area; and
(c) the name of the relevant body who applied for the designation.
These are available to view below:
- Saddleworth Neighbourhood Area Decision Notice;
- Saddleworth Parish Council neighbourhood area map;
- Summary of comments received; and
- Supporting letter by Saddleworth Parish Council.
The above documents are also available to view at local libraries and at the Civic Centre Planning Reception (temporarily located at the elections office reception).
Details of the decision are also available to view on the Peak District National Park Authority website.
Preparing a Neighbourhood Plan
Saddleworth Parish Council have prepared the Saddleworth Neighbourhood Plan.
Information on this can be found on the following website.
Oldham Council in consultation with the Peak District National Park Authority and the three statutory bodies (the Environment Agency, Natural England and Historic England) has screened whether the plan requires a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA). The screening statement is now available to view.
Saddleworth Parish Council publicised the draft Saddleworth Neighbourhood Plan and invited representations between 2 April and 10 June 2024.
Saddleworth Parish Council subsequently submitted the Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documentation to Oldham Council and the Peak District National Park Authority.
Oldham Council agreed at Cabinet on 15th December 2025 that the Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to consultation and examination in accordance with Regulations 16 and 17 of the Regulations. A copy of the Decision Statement is available below.
Next Steps
Oldham Council to publish and consult on the Saddleworth Neighbourhood Plan.
The comments received will then be sent to an independent examiner who will assess whether the Plan meets certain basic conditions and legal requirements.
If successful, a referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan will then be held. If more than 50% of voters say yes to using the Neighbourhood Plan to help decide on planning applications for the neighbourhood area, then the plan is adopted.
Once passed, the neighbourhood plan will become part of the statutory development plan and will be used to determine planning applications alongside the relevant Local Plans for the neighbourhood area.
Further information will be available as the neighbourhood plan progresses.
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For more details visit the planning policy consultation page: