Decision to be made on accommodation units for young adults

At the meeting of Oldham Council's planning committee on Wednesday (June 5), members of the committee will decide on the plans for the building to be developed on vacant land off Foundry Street and adjacent to Oldham Way.

The building would have 15 one-bedroom apartments which would be accommodated by young people at risk of experiencing homelessness and in need of care and support.

Councillors have been recommended to approve the application.

The design of the proposed building (Image: DK-Architects)

According to affordable housing group Jigsaw Homes, the applicants, the building would be "vital to help people access affordable homes to rent on a shorter term basis".

The westerly section would be two storeys, providing 15 self-contained, one-bedroom living units and an associated office, while the easterly one-storey section would include ancillary accommodation as well as two communal areas, cycle and waste bin storage, and a plant room.

Each of the 15 units would have bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and lounge area, while there would also be communal areas on the ground floor.

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The units would be affordable and available on a rental basis, with residents able to access the specialist care and services that they need in order to facilitate a move to permanent housing options.

According to an application report prepared by council planning officer Graham Dickman, the Environmental Health officer who was consulted said some form of ventilation strategy for the building would be needed.

This is due to the proximity of the site to Oldham Way, leading to concerns regarding pollution for potential residents.

The site where the accommodation would be built (Image: DK-Architects)

As such, a condition of approval is that a detailed ventilation strategy allowing bedrooms and living rooms to be occupied without the need for windows to be open must be approved in order for the development to take place.

Another suggestion was an acoustic boundary fence to help residents with the noise.

According to DK-Architects, who prepared parts of the application, the proposed site currently "provides an opportunity for anti-social behaviour".

It added that developing housing at the location would benefit the community by providing a "clear and sustainable use" on the "unkept scrub-land site".

The site is adjacent to Koffee Kingdom cafe and is across the road from Oldham Sixth Form College's sports centre, while the Metrolink track sits just north of the site and Oldham Way directly to the west.