Vision and Plan Objectives Local Plan Publication stage

The vision for Oldham is that by 2039…

Oldham will have a clean, green and healthy environment. We will have responded to both the Biodiversity and Climate Change emergencies through the protection, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment and having a substantially reduced carbon footprint from meeting the Council’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Oldham will be a carbon neutral exemplar with a resilient and multifunctional Green Infrastructure network which brings multiple benefits to the natural and built environment as well as to the health of its residents and visitors.

Through delivering at least 11,560 new homes of different sizes and types, including affordable housing, Oldham will have quality homes for everyone that meet the needs of Oldham’s residents. New homes, delivered in sustainable and accessible locations, will contribute to inclusive and vibrant communities where everyone can live.

Oldham will be a key contributor to Greater Manchester’s economy, with a strong reputation for clean growth and green innovation. It will be a place of dynamic businesses with better job opportunities, where those businesses local to Oldham are supported to thrive and grow, and those new to Oldham are attracted to invest. Every resident will be enabled to contribute to, and benefit from, economic growth of the city region providing significant progress in living standards, wages and skills for everyone in Oldham.

Oldham will have accessible and sustainable transport choices, providing improved connectivity across the borough, the city-region and beyond - for all. We will have an integrated transport system that enables the local economy to prosper and our residents to fully contribute to and benefit from job opportunities, and a comprehensive network of on and off-road walking, wheeling and cycling routes that encourage active travel, making it easier and safer for people to get to key local destinations.

Oldham Town Centre will be a place that thrives by combining a retail core with quality homes, opportunities to learn, develop new skills and gain employment, and a diverse culture, leisure and night-time offer that supports its local communities and attracts visitors. Oldham Town Centre will be supported by the borough’s other centres – Chadderton, Failsworth, Hill Stores, Lees, Shaw, Royton and Uppermill which will continue to provide a vital role in meeting the needs of the borough’s communities, connecting our residents to local services and facilities in a way that fosters a sense of community and local identity.

Oldham residents will be healthy, safe and well-supported, having a great start from early years and with skills for life. They will have access to local community facilities and health and well-being provision and will have active and healthier lifestyles gained from access to active travel, green infrastructure and opportunities for sport and recreation.

Opportunities for excellent training and life-long education will be available to all Oldham residents, raising aspirations, reducing inequalities and tackling poverty. Providing residents with a great start and skills for life so that they can make the most of opportunities available to them, whilst meeting the needs for local businesses and helping to attract and retain new business opportunities.

New development will be net zero and in line with co-design expectations and design codes developed with Oldham’s communities, whilst the key characteristics of Oldham’s townscape and landscape types and Oldham’s historic environment and rich heritage will be conserved and enhanced.

Plan Objectives

The Local Plan Vision for Oldham up to 2039 will be achieved by the following 10 Plan Objectives....

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.