Oldham Town Centre Local Plan Publication stage

Over the last decade, Oldham town centre has witnessed several major transformational projects, in particular the redevelopment of the Old Town Hall, improvements to public spaces and investment in public transport infrastructure.

The focus is now on redefining Oldham town centre’s retail and residential offer as the next stage of its regeneration.

Building a Better Oldham is an ambitious plan to transform Oldham.

The ambition and vision is that we will be Building a Better Oldham by:

• building quality homes
• providing opportunities to learn & gain new skills
• providing opportunities to grow local businesses and create jobs
• ensuring Oldham is the greenest borough
• embedding sustainability, energy efficiency & low (zero) carbon
• by improving life-chances, health and well-being of our residents and local communities

Figure One: Oldham Town Centre’s Core Areas

The policies listed below are designed to support Building a Better Oldham. A summary of them is given under each heading.

• Policy OTC1 - Oldham Town Centre:
  • Policy OTC1 outlines how the council will deliver the vision for Oldham Town Centre. The policy focuses on specific areas within the town centre. Principles for development proposals in Oldham town centre include promoting high-density, high-quality, and sustainable development, incorporating low-carbon design, enhancing the Oldham Town Centre Conservation Area, ensuring an active street scene, incorporating cycling, wheeling and walking links, and improved wayfinding, supporting active travel and helps to define, and enhance local character and sense of place and maximising the generation of social value. The policy reflects a comprehensive approach to revitalising Oldham town centre.

• Policy OTC2 - Protecting and Enhancing Oldham Town Centre Conservation Area:
  • Policy OTC2 is focussed on removing the Oldham Town Centre conservation area from Historic England's heritage at risk register. Development proposals should take into consideration the Oldham Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan Supplementary Planning Document. The policy sets out a number of criteria that will be encouraged and supported.

• Policy OTC3 - Creating a Better Public Realm for Oldham Town Centre;
  • Policy OTC3 focuses on creating a better public realm for Oldham Town Centre. It sets out a number of principles for how the public realm will be developed and enhanced in Oldham Town Centre.

• Policy OTC4 - Green Infrastructure within and around Oldham Town Centre
  • Policy OTC4 emphasises the support for proposals that protect, create, and enhance multi-functional Green Infrastructure within and around Oldham Town Centre.

To read the policies in full, please download the Oldham Local Plan: Publication Plan which is available to view here on the Council’s website.