Oldham Council and Muse are currently holding a community conversation on their plans to deliver up to 2,000 new, high-quality town centre homes over the next 15 years and they want to hear what you think.

A few weeks ago, as a major part of the Council’s drive to deliver a local solution to the national housing crisis, Muse and Oldham Council unveiled the draft Development Framework, which outlines their approach to delivering these homes.

The Framework aims to provide Oldhamers with a better choice and a greater supply of new homes, both available to buy and to rent. The homes will be located within safe, inclusive and attractive town centre neighbourhoods that everyone can enjoy. The overall vision is to create a town centre with character, thousands of new homes and an emphasis on sustainability, community and quality, which, in turn, will deliver more local jobs and learning opportunities for Oldhamers.

The Development Framework identifies five key town centre locations for these new homes. They are called Character Areas, with each contributing to making Oldham an even better place to live, work and play. These Character Areas are:

  • The Civic and Residential Quarter

  • The Retail Core

  • The Cultural & Creative Quarter

  • Eastern Edge and Oldham Mumps, and

  • Western Edge and Educational Quarter

The Framework seeks to ensure that the plans are reflective of Oldham’s industrial heritage and the needs and views of those who call Oldham home. This is why Muse and Oldham Council are seeking your feedback on the draft Framework to ensure the final plan is one that works for everyone.

The community conversation is currently live and will run until Wednesday, 11th September 2024 with a number of in-person events taking place at the Spindles Shopping Centre in the town centre over the next few weeks. At the events, details for which are available at www.OldhamTownLiving.co.uk, you will have an opportunity to speak to the project team about the proposals and to share your views.

If you can’t make an in-person event, you can still get involved by completing the online questionnaire, emailing contact@OldhamTownLiving.co.uk or phoning the project team on Freephone 0808 168 8296 and leaving a message. There is also a Freepost address you can write to, the details for which are available on the project website.

Following this summer’s community conversation, all feedback will be reviewed alongside the Development Framework. It will then be presented to Oldham Council’s Cabinet for endorsement. Once approved, the Development Framework will be used by Oldham Council’s Planning Committee when considering planning applications brought forward in the five Character Areas.

For more information, contact information for the project team and to view the calendar of community events, visit www.OldhamTownLiving.co.uk.

You can also get the latest updates by following @OldhamTownLiving on Facebook and Instagram and @Oldham_Living on X.