Plans to turn bungalow in Oldham into day care centre for older people

An application to change a bungalow on Highlands into a care centre for vulnerable elderly people was submitted by the Oldham branch of Age UK on March 30 this year.

Age UK Oldham Limited is a registered charity that has been advocating and supporting older people with a range of services for more than 14 years.

The charity already has Bluebells Day Centre in Moorside, which has been providing day care for 15 to 20 elderly people with success since 2018.

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The plans have been erected on a lamppost (Image: Cllr Dave Arnott)

Age UK said the day care centre provides a "normal domestic setting", as opposed to an institutional one, which benefits its users.

Now, it hopes to expand its provision by transforming a second bungalow in Royton into another centre.

The site itself extends to approximately 0.14 hectares with "large landscaped" gardens and two gated driveways, the proposal states.

In support of the plans, Hourigan Planning said that the site is "very sustainable from an accessibility perspective", being so close to Royton town centre, a number of bus stops and local amenities, such as Lidl and Co-op, while the driveway could accommodate several cars and a minibus.

The proposals stipulate the day care centre would be open five days a week, Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

The 16-seater minibus would be used by the charity to pick up and drop off elderly residents in the area as it is expected the users would be "too frail" to travel independently, though it stressed the bus would not be sat outside the premises all day.

The typical minibus Age UK uses (Image: Age UK)

"The day centre would effectively create a safe and community environment for elderly locals to socialise and interact with one another.

"All day care centre users live in their own home either alone or with a relative/carer but need assistance to remain independent due to physical or mental frailty."

A total of five members of staff would work in the centre and would be able to park in the designated staff car parking area, which the plans propose will be created by extending car parking provision in the rear garden.

In other Oldham planning news, also read:

• Plans to open children's care home in Oldham granted despite objections 
• Plans for new nursery to be built on unused Oldham site approved
• Oldham Mayor welcomes new development of 200 homes
• Historic Oldham building to be demolished under new plans

In addition, the applicant hopes to introduce new, soft landscaping to shield the new parking area from neighbouring properties and to build a 1.8m high timber fence.

However, while the application recognises that the development would result in the loss of a family-sized home, a report with the plans claims the minor alterations to the property means it could be easily returned to residential use "should the present demand for this facility cease".

High on its list of benefits of the proposals, Hourigan Planning said the centre would "positively contribute to improving the health and well-being of people in Oldham", as well as provide economic benefits such as a boost to jobs and services.

It stated the plans would not have an adverse impact on neighbours or other road users.

While the council is yet to decide the fate of the site, a number of residents have already publicly posted their thoughts.

The bungalow on Highlands (Image: Cllr Dave Arnott)

Of the six comments submitted so far to the council, half are in favour of the proposals.

A supporter wrote: "A facility like this is much needed in the area.

"If not at this beautiful bungalow, on a site with large driveways and ample off-road parking, then where?"

The neighbour added that while the "lovely gardens" will be maintained for the enjoyment of those in the day centre, they added that there is an "assurance that the squirrels will still be welcome".

The comment appears to be in reference to Coppice Nursing Home where residents complained about the "odd" disappearance of the critters to The Oldham Times last year.

"This property could have been sold to a developer, to someone with no interest in maintaining the grounds, to someone wanting to keep noisy livestock or to a person with plans for a party Air BnB.

"It seems to me that the current application will be a good solution for all concerned - and any one of us could end up needing its services one day", the commenter concluded.

Another agreed that the plan is an "excellent idea" with "widespread support" from Roytoners.

However, not all are as enthusiastic about the day care centre with two objectors saying the site could create parking problems on an already "dangerous" road.

One claimed its proximity to a school could put children at risk when crossing the road.

"The dwelling is a family home and was built for a family, with beautiful substantial gardens which invites wildlife habitats.

"Turning this dwelling into a commercial use would be the loss of ecology and children's learning, and not in keeping with the residential non-commercial homes on the estate.

"It is not the location for this at all", they added.

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