The Oldham Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and the North West Development Agency (NWDA), and Produced by a Team of Consultants Led by URBED
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
OldhamIdeas for Net transformation OldhamIdeas for transformation Third Masterplanning April report2004 for... Oldham Local Strategic Net Partnership and North West Development Agency by... URBED, S333, King Sturge, Comedia, and WSP May 2004 1. Introduction 1 URBED Manchester URBED Manchester 2. Nodes 3 10 Little Lever Street 10 Little Lever Street Manchester Manchester 3. Demonstration Nodes 7 M1 1HR M1 1HR Node 01: HOLLINWOOD 7 0161 200 5500 Node 02: ZETEX 15 t. 0161 200 5500 Node 03: FEATHERSTALL ROAD 23 f. 0161 237 3994 URBED London Node 04: OLDHAM ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB 33 e. [email protected] 19 Store Street Node 05: WEST END 41 w. www.urbed.com London Node 06: GREENFIELD MILL 49 WC1E 7DH Node 07: ROYTON TOWN CENTRE 57 0207 436 8050 4. Conclusions 63 [email protected] www.urbed.com 1.Introduction This is the Third Masterplan in the family of reports that comprise Oldham Beyond, a new vision for the Borough of Oldham commissioned by the Oldham Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and the North West Development Agency (NWDA), and produced by a team of consultants led by URBED. The three ‘demonstrator plans’ have been undertaken by the team to show the practi- cal impact of the themes and principles that have emerged from the overall Vision for Oldham Beyond, but unlike the masterplans for the Werneth/Freehold Housing Market Renewal area and Oldham Town Centre, this third masterplan encompasses all of the borough. It aims to be imaginative and visual but rooted in practicality – as well as setting out a route towards achieving the transformation of seven exemplar ‘demonstrator’ sites, it also offers principles for a regeneration framework that could bring life to many other places across the borough. A route to the future The main aim of the masterplan is to provide a practical route forward towards the possible implementation of the different scenarios and plans, but it also offers an imaginative and visual way of thinking about the future of the borough. This creative thinking can be applied to other sites and situations, based on the principles for the nodes that are explored here. Throughout the masterplan we look to the future to explore the potential changes that could be achieved in the borough. -1- Oldham 3rd Demonstrator Report - May 2004 ������������������ ������������������������� ���������������������� ������������������������� ������������������������� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� ��� ������������� ������������������ ������������ ����������������� ���������������� ������������� ������������ ������������� ������������ ���������� ������������� ������ ������������� ������������� Figure 1: Schematic illustration of the development of ideas towards re-imagining Oldham through a social and cultural network -2- -3- Oldham 3rd Demonstrator Report - May 2004 2. Nodes This masterplan develops a series of seven smaller plans and scenarios for different types of place across the borough. These seven ‘nodes’ have been chosen for two reasons: first, because individually they offer significant and often unique opportunities for the borough as a whole as well as for their local neighbourhoods, and second, because they encompass the six themes that have emerged from Oldham Beyond and therefore demonstrate practical ways in which the ideas developed in the Vision can be taken forward in the future. These six themes are: Wealth Creation Common Ground A Learning Community Liveability New Oldham (governance and cultural identity) Sustainability Of these, the themes of Wealth Creation and Common Ground have been identified as central to the future development of Oldham, and they underpin all of the ideas developed here. Wealth Creation Common Ground to protect and expand existing A fundamental question for towns like employers, and in particular to encourage Interaction between communities will not Oldham is where wealth is created. new firm foundation, as well as to attract happen unless there is ‘Common Ground’, Unemployment in Oldham currently is less new investment. not owned by any community – public than the national average. However, this The Vision for Oldham Beyond describes realm, where people can meet, interact and positive statistic hides a low skill/low wage our underlying principles for Wealth Crea- get on with each other. Within Oldham Be- economy and a reliance on business sec- tion in more detail, in particular for provid- yond we hope to create a range of places in tors that are forecast to decline nationally ing more help and assistance for existing the borough where this interaction can take in employment terms, if not in absolute firms, creating ‘strategic’ employment place – we are also calling them ‘Zones terms. Many Oldhamers in future will also sites to attract inward investment at both of Exchange and Understanding’. As well travel outside the borough to work. For Hollinwood and Mumps in the town centre, as the proposals made in the Werneth/ Oldham to prosper it is therefore imperative encouraging and assisting further growth Freehold and Town Centre masterplans, that action is taken to address these issues in the creative industries and amongst the each of the seven nodes in the ‘Oldham so that the borough can compete again in Asian business community, fostering social Net’ incorporates the principle of Common a global as well as a regional market. To enterprise, exploiting the borough’s tour- Ground. Each node is intended as a new create wealth in the borough this ism assets and creating zones of economic form of public space, to benefit the citizens Figure 1: Schematic illustration of the development of ideas towards re-imagining Oldham through a social and cultural network masterplan recognises that it is important interaction between the communities. of Oldham. -2- -3- Oldham 3rd Demonstrator Report - May 2004 ���������������������� ������������������������ �������������������������� ������������������������������ Figure 2: Oldham’s Node ‘landscape’ in 2004 A Network of nodes The seven nodes have been chosen as improvements to the points may include exemplars because they offer a vital public art (as happened in Barcelona) or opportunity to the borough, not just eco- even the commissioning of a small nomically, but also socially and culturally. building by a famous architect (as However, we see these individual places happened in Groningen that has a public as the first points in a growing network that toilet designed by Rem Koolhaas). These could bind and strengthen the borough points and lines eventually combine to through further developments in future. unite the borough and to build links The idea of a regeneration ‘net’ between neighbourhoods. This to coordinate a series of improvements regeneration framework could then spread across the borough reinforces the principle across the whole of Oldham and indeed throughout Oldham Beyond of developing beyond the boundaries of the borough. the ‘point and line’ technique first used in Therefore the principles that we the revitalisation of Barcelona. The princi- will develop in this masterplan are also ple involves identifying a series of spaces intended as guidance to other, future devel- (points) at the heart of local communities opments, to have a spatial, ‘interweaving’ that can be improved and then focusing on benefit for Oldham, as the net grows ever the connections (lines) between them. The tighter and stronger. -4- -5- Oldham 3rd Demonstrator Report - May 2004 INGREDIENTS LOCATION FEATHERSTALL ROYTON TOWN WEST END GREENFIELD HOLLINWOOD OAFC ZETEX ROAD CENTRE common ground X X X X X X X offices X X X X X retail X X X X X X start-up incubators X X conference facilities X X X X X X market X X theatre X X X Roxy cinema X creative workshops X X X X X museum X X X community institution X X X X public services X X X X "Social Computer" X X X research facilities X X nursery / school / college / X X X X X training restaurant / café / bar X X X X X X X indoor / outdoor sports X X X X visitors accommodation X X X X housing X X X X X Figure 3: Identifying the Nodes – the common ingredients in each node -4- -5- Oldham 3rd Demonstrator Report - May 2004 -6- -7- Oldham 3rd Demonstrator Report - May 2004 3.Demonstration Nodes Themes: Wealth Creation, Common Ground Context Location Opportunities for development Hollinwood is a key gateway to Oldham. It The Hollinwood area’s location at the inter- Hollinwood has the potential to become a stands at the junction of the M60, the A62 section of the A62 and Manchester’s orbital significant economic hub on the ‘economic and the proposed Metrolink. This highly motorway, the M60, places it in a highly ring’ of the M60 – an office/business area accessible location is combined with a accessible location on Manchester’s ‘eco- of sub-regional importance. We do not see significant amount of land that is either nomic ring’. The proposed development of Hollinwood being developed for a local vacant or underdeveloped. This masterplan a Metrolink line between Manchester City market – it is too valuable a site for this therefore sees this as the most prominent Centre to Oldham and Rochdale Town Cen- – but rather to compete in a sub-regional inward investment location in Oldham. It is tres through the site will not only improve market comprising most of the M60 seen as a location that can attract com- the public transport accessibility of the corridor. mercial uses into a high quality business area, but place Hollinwood on Manches- The area’s prime location, lower environment that promotes economic ter’s public transport ‘map’. Hollinwood is land values, large catchment population development and projects a strong image currently less than 15 minutes by car from and excellent accessibility will enable it to for Oldham. Manchester Airport: with Metrolink it will compete with the South Manchester Busi- To make the area work as a destination it be a similar journey time to Manchester ness Parks and with sites closer into the needs a mix of other uses. As well as of- City Centre. City Centre. However, to do so the area has fices these could include housing, leisure to match the ‘offer’ of its competitors, i.e.