Oldham to include more brownfield sites instead of green belt in spatial plan

Council chiefs say that after listening to their communities they have taken out "as much green belt development as possible from the 17-year plan", as part of a commitment to prioritising brownfield land for future housing and employment space.

Oldham must build 11,764 homes by 2037. Now, a majority of these homes will be built on previously developed land to ensure as little green belt development as possible.

Green belt allocations in the 2020 plan will enable the development of 2,597 homes and 141,720sqm of employment land. This is a vast reduction from last year’s draft plan, which included proposals for 4,007 new homes and 342,386 sqm of employment land.

After reviewing the evidence, the key changes in the latest version of the plan - known as the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) - will include:

· Removing the proposed housing site at Thornham Old Road

· Removing the proposed housing site at Spinners Way

· Removing the majority of the proposed housing sites in Woodhouses, retaining only one site for 30 homes at Bottom Field Farm (on the existing brownfield footprint of the farm)

· Removing some housing sites from the Ashton Road Corridor but retaining and extending the site south of Coal Pit Lane to minimise the impact on the local community

· Changes to the housing and employment land at Kingsway South - this is now proposed as a broad location for future development (outside the current planned period) and it will remain in the green belt. This newly defined broad location site will be renamed High Crompton Broad Location.

Calls for brownfield sites to come forward as part of earlier consultation phases did not generate enough to meet government targets, therefore the council has submitted alternative brownfield sites including around 2,500 homes in the town centre.

Council leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Sean Fielding said: “The council has never wanted to give up Oldham’s green belt, we know it’s what makes our town special.

“We have listened to residents and are pleased to have more than halved the amount of green belt development from when the spatial framework was first developed in 2016.

“We’ve been working hard to identify alternative viable brownfield sites which will enable us to fulfil our housing need whilst helping us to protect the green belt and be a catalyst for regeneration - including exciting town centre improvements.”

The review has been integral in bringing forward additional sites for future homes and employment space – relieving pressure on the green belt and regenerating Oldham for the benefit of all. It includes:

• An increase of 800 homes on brownfield mill sites due to emerging evidence from the draft Mill Strategy

• An increase of 36 homes in the borough’s centres due to emerging evidence from the Retail and Leisure Study

• An increase of 908 homes within Oldham Town centre as a result of the updated Oldham Town Centre Framework; and

• New planning permissions granted since previous drafts.

But government states that Oldham must build 11,764 homes over the next 17 years – an average of 692 homes a year. So, whilst we have identified as much brownfield land as possible, it is still not enough to meet our housing need.

Cllr Hannah Roberts, cabinet member for housing, said: “Oldham needs more and better housing – which meets the needs of residents at various stages of their lives including affordable housing and homes for social rent.

“We understand the significant concerns the local community has expressed in the previous consultations and we have removed as much green belt as possible. We would have liked to remove it all, however we have to a statutory duty to meet house-building targets set by government - which is why some allocations remain.

“But we will not allow developers to ride roughshod over the green belt. We’ve brought in additional policies so that any development of the allocation sites is done as sensitively as possible including protecting important habitats, enhancing green belt in the surrounding area or providing new and/or improved open space, sport and recreation facilities.”

The plan sets out where housing and employment space could be built in the future. Without it, the town will have less control over the future shape of the area, and growth will take place without being properly planned for the benefit of all.

Cllr Fielding added: “We want green belt allocations to be the last to be built on, but we know brownfield sites can be less appealing to developers than other sites which are effectively a ‘blank canvas.’

“Our hands are tied when granting planning permission – we have to follow national laws and policies – so we’ll be calling on government to back our brownfield first approach and support our aim to put local people at the heart of planning policy.

“We have an ambitious vision for Oldham – we want quality homes, jobs and training opportunities. We’ve developed a plan which does the best job for Oldham and creates a better place that allows us all to live happier, healthier lives.”

Greater Manchester’s Plan for Homes, Jobs and the Environment is to be considered by AGMA on October 13 – meeting papers are set to be published on October 5. Oldham Council will meet to discuss the plan on October 28. The final public consultation on the plan is scheduled to take place November 4 to December 31.