Thousands of new homes are set to be built on key brownfield sites around Oldham in an effort to improve housing across the borough.

The council is set to approve plans to develop houses at locations such as the former Oldham Mumps railway station and vacant land sites in Derker.

In total, the council is looking to build up to 3,000 houses on more than 20 council-owned sites across the borough as part of its Housing Delivery Strategy.

Southlink, the site of Oldham Mumps railways station until its closure in 2009, will see 150 new houses built there, while 134 new houses will be built by Hive Homes on three separate sites in Derker, including the former homes of Cromford Mill and Derker Hotel.

Of the 134 houses in Derker, 44 will be constructed to carbon-neutral standards and 90 market sale homes will be built using low carbon standards, with the whole development to be gas free.

Southlink will see a mix of up to 150 new houses and low-rise apartments built, including affordable homes which will be let to those on the Housing Register.

Other spots set for development include the former Kaskenmoor School where 150 homes could be built, 112 homes in Limehurst Village and 150 homes at the former South Chadderton School.

The council is also looking to deliver up to 2,000 new homes in the town centre including homes at the Civic Centre, the former Magistrates’ Court and the former Oldham Leisure Centre site.

Cllr Hannah Roberts, Cabinet member for housing, said: "We are proud to be transforming brownfield sites across the borough to give people the much-needed homes they need, whatever their personal circumstances.

"In doing so we can safeguard the green belt from unnecessary development and breathe new life into vacant and disused sites."

The council is looking to build 43 wheelchair or accessible and adaptable homes across the sites, which will be a mix of two and three-bedroom bungalows and three and four-bedroom houses and will be either low or zero carbon.

Funding for the project will come from the  Homes England Grant and resources from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) which will be repaid through rents from residents.

Other small sites set for development include Lancaster House in Royton, Dew Way in Coldhurst, Flint Street in Derker, James Street in Failsworth, Wellington Street in Chadderton, Estate Street in Hathershaw and Farm Road in Limehurst, all of which have been cleared and are ready for development.