Oldham Vision Final Report
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Oldham A Vision for the Borough of Oldham A report by... URBED, Comedia, S333, beyond King Sturge and WSP April 2004 Oldham A Vision for the Borough of Oldham A report for Oldham Local Strategic Partnership and Northwest Development Agency by... URBED, Comedia, S333 Contents King Sturge and WSP Introduction 3 April 2004 Oldham Vision 4 Strategy: 10 key ideas 6 Oldham Before 8 Oldham Today 10 Oldham Beyond 12 Oldham renaissance 14 Wealth Creation 16 Liveability 18 A Learning Community 20 URBED Sustainable Oldham 22 10 Little Lever Street Common Ground 24 Manchester New Oldham 26 M1 1HR Conclusion next steps 28 Appendices 0161 200 5500 1. Oldham views 30 [email protected] 2. Renaissance Audit 32 www.urbed.com 3. Economy 35 4. Transport 37 5. Urban design 38 Oldham Beyond has been commissioned by the Oldham Local Strate- gic Partnership (LSP) and the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) to develop a vision and strategy for the renaissance of the Borough of Oldham. This document sets out a route for Oldham’s renaissance, which encompasses its people and communities, economy, transport, housing market and physical environment. This has been a huge task and has been In addition to the borough-wide Throughout the study, the emerging find- undertaken by a consultancy team led by work, the team has also undertaken a series ings have been discussed and evaluated URBED with Comedia, King Sturge, S333 of more detailed masterplans to demon- with a Sounding Board made up of council Architects and WSP. Expert input has also strate and explore the themes emerging officers, LSP and NWDA representatives. been provided by Professor Brian Robson from the wider vision. These ‘demonstrator This body has helped to shape the findings and Professor Sir Peter Hall. The study plans’ are: and themes to emerge out of this study. has involved conversations with more than This work is brought together and sum- 2,000 people in the borough including Werneth/Freehold: A masterplan for marised in this report. In the hope that it work with schools, two workshops, a series one of the Housing Market Renewal will be widely read, this vision report has of sector working groups, eight focus (HMR) pilot areas, which looked at how been concisely written and so inevitably is groups, presentations to each of the Area to revive low-value and low-demand ter- unable to cover some of the detail of our Committees and the Oldham ‘Satellite’ raced housing markets. This masterplan recommendations. We have therefore listed (‘Thought Bubble’), an inflatable room that formed part of a £55 million initial bid the full range of supporting papers for toured different venues in Autumn 2003. for HMR funds (since approved). Oldham Beyond at the end of this report, as These consultations are summarised in well as including details on how to com- Appendix 1 and have made an important Oldham Town Centre: A masterplan ment on any of these. contribution to the strategy we propose for for Oldham Town Centre focusing par- This report starts with a vision the borough’s renaissance. ticularly on the Economic Development for Oldham Borough in 15 years’ time Consultation has been com- Zone around its southern fringe. before setting out the 10 key proposals bined with a wide range of research by the that make up our strategy to realise this Oldham Beyond team. A number of working Further demonstrators: A series of vision. The sections that follow summarise papers provide detailed analyses of the smaller plans for sites throughout the our research and the thinking behind the borough’s economy, culture, transport and borough including Zetex, Hollinwood, strategy and are supported by a series of urban design. These themes are summa- Oldham Athletic FC, the Robert appendices. The report concludes with rised as appendices to this report and are Fletcher site in Greenfield, Royton Town six strategic themes and sets out 89 more available as separate working papers. Centre and Featherstall Road. detailed recommendations. Oldham Beyond - A Vision for the Borough of Oldham - April 2004 Our vision for Oldham in 15 years’ time... centre, rather than other towns, because A confident place, at ease with itself and celebrating in its diverse com- of its striking new buildings and the munities and landscapes – from the tight-knit terraced communities to convivial creative atmosphere of the the wild moors and valley villages to the east. A borough that is proud centre. of its industrial past but which has reinvented its economy by making the most of the creativity and drive of its young people. The world will City: A short Metrolink ride away will see the borough as a place transformed and people will be attracted to be Manchester City Centre and beyond live and work in the borough by the quality of life that it offers and by its the Airport, Salford Quays and the reputation for tolerance and diversity. Trafford Centre. Through the new ‘tube map’ of Greater Manchester people in A generator of wealth: diverse neighbourhoods, smaller towns Oldham will feel part of the wider city The borough will be a good place to do and villages each with its own centre and able to access all of its opportuni- business, where bold developments at creating a sense of community and ties and facilities. Hollinwood and Mumps have created an providing local services. To symbol- attractive alternative to the sterile ‘busi- ise this, the heart of each of these A desirable place to live ness parks’ that characterise many towns, communities will have been ‘marked’ Oldham will become a good place to live creating dramatic gateways to the borough. with a sculpture or building. These with a range of aspirational and affordable Oldham Town Centre will be a hotbed of communities will be proud of their housing. A Smart Communities strategy creative and knowledge industries where history but welcoming of people from will develop and consolidate compact talented people are attracted from else- different backgrounds and there will be walkable communities around Metrolink where because of the convivial environ- a much broader ethnic mix throughout stops and town centres. Elsewhere in the ment and affordable accommodation. the borough. There will, however, be borough some of the terraces will have The borough’s 138 mills will have been neighbourhoods that remain Asian in been redeveloped to reduce densities and refurbished for new business and illumi- character. These will become part of create more suburban housing. A focus on nated as a potent symbol of the borough’s Oldham’s appeal because their shops design quality and sustainable develop- transformation. and restaurants attract people from ment will have marked the borough out for across the borough and further afield. its attractive and innovative housing. This Many places not one will have strengthened the housing market The borough will be attractive as a place Borough: A reborn industrial borough and householders will invest in their homes to live and work because of the fusion of focused on a thriving Oldham town in the confidence that values will rise. countryside and community on the door- centre that attracts people from through- step of one of the great European cities. A out the region because of its university An ambitious people place that people relate to on three levels: college, excellent cultural facilities and The borough’s excellent education facilities broad range of shopping and leisure will have created opportunities for young Neighbourhood: A constellation of uses. They will come to Oldham town people to achieve their full potential. The - 4 - - 5 - Oldham Beyond - A Vision for the Borough of Oldham - April 2004 new confidence in the borough and the sustainability and the benefits will be not egy and challenges for the next 15 years. knowledge that exciting opportunities are just to the environment but to Oldham’s This vision is within Oldham’s grasp. In this available will have encouraged more young people and its economy. Housing Market report we set out a strategy that will gener- people to stay on at college and university. Renewal will have radically improved the ate the momentum to start this process. As The quality of life in the borough will have energy efficiency of the housing stock with all major change - starting the process also persuaded many more talented young and reduced heating bills for some of the will be difficult and may be expensive. people to stay in Oldham when they gradu- poorest households. Companies in the However, the aim is to create the self- ate, or to return after studying elsewhere. borough will have found new markets in fuelling, virtuous circle of regeneration This will transform the low wage/low environmental industries such as recycling, described above. skilled culture of Oldham – not just by at- remanufacturing and renewable energy. We summarise this strategy on tracting people into the borough (although the following page, which sets out our 10 its positive image means this will happen) New Oldham key proposals. The body of the report is but because local people will decide to The new Oldham will be viewed differently then structured in three sections: stay. The renaissance of the borough will by its people – they will be proud to live therefore happen through a virtuous circle and work in the borough and willing to Oldham Before: Which reviews the – a more skilled population with better jobs be active citizens. The council will have history of the borough and the roots of – increased spending power – a resur- encouraged this by devolving further power the situation today. gence of the town centre and more money and responsibilities to the local level and in the local economy – more jobs because encouraging a range of organisations and Oldham Today: Which explores a the borough is more attractive to entrepre- partnerships to flourish.