Enabling works set stage for £550m Oldham vision
The ball is rolling on Muse’s plans for the construction of 240 homes on a former leisure centre site, identified in Oldham’s development framework as a character area with residential potential.
The scheme is part of the developer’s 24-acre, £550m town centre transformation, being undertaken in partnership with the council, which is hoped to deliver 2,000 homes for Oldham.
Approval was granted in June last year for remediation works to start. The leisure centre and pool were demolished in 2016, meanwhile, the site has found use as a public car park.
Oldham’s development framework envisages two L-shaped blocks centred around a private residents’ courtyard.
The first proposed block would face Lord Street and St Mary’s Way, ranging from five to eight storeys across split levels.
Block two would face onto a linear park and St Mary’s Way. It would also be split level between five and eight storeys.
Plans suggest the scheme needs to have a sensitive design to accommodate potential heritage impacts on the nearby grade two-listed Church of St Mary and St Peter and the Oldham town centre conservation area to the south of the site.
In addition to works beginning on this site, EIA screening and scoping opinion reports have been submitted for three other sites.
How the wider redevelopment of Oldham town centre could look. Credit: via Oldham Council
Alex Vogel, senior development manager, Muse, said: “This is hugely exciting for Oldham. Not only are we moving forward with key planning considerations through the EIA submissions, but we’re also seeing real, tangible progress on site.
“The enabling works at the former leisure centre demonstrate our commitment to delivering high-quality homes in the heart of Oldham, with sustainability and accessibility central to our vision.”
He added: “We look forward to engaging further with the community in the coming weeks as part of the consultation process, ensuring that local people help shape the future of the town centre.”
Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, added: “Our partnership with Muse is delivering real change for Oldham, and I’m delighted to see work getting underway at the former leisure centre.
“This site is just one part of a much larger vision to bring new homes, jobs, and opportunities to the town centre.
“We’re making sure that sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and I encourage all residents to take part in the upcoming public consultation to help shape the town’s future.”
- View the consultation: oldhamtownliving.co.uk
