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

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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. These diverse series of drivers for change in Oldham neurs and inward investors – an improved groups will have been working together today. image attracting even more talented people over the last fifteen years to bring about etc… this dramatic transformation with a com- Oldham Beyond: Which sets out a mon purpose and a determination to make strategy for Oldham under six themes: A sustainable borough things happen. They will be planning to Wealth Creation. Liveability, A Learn- The borough will have invested in build on these successes with a new strat- ing Communiy, Common Ground, Sustainability and New Oldham.

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The Vision for the Borough of Oldham set out on the previous page taps into the strengths of the borough as well as the wider economic and social trends that Oldham must exploit. We have also looked at the driv- ers for change in Oldham and the issues that industrial boroughs like Oldham need to address (see pages 12-15). These issues have been developed into a strategy for the borough as summarised below.

In pages 18-27 of this report we set out a New business: The promotion of two We believe that they should be converted series of 82 recommendations under six major new business locations. The over time to a combination of creative headings: Wealth creation, Liveability, a first at the Hollinwood junction of the workspace and housing. The starting point Learning Community, Common Ground, M60 and the A62 (see page 13) should is a number of demonstrator projects Sustainability and New Oldham. These be a prestige business location at one of including Hartford Mill (see Werneth/ recommendations are not, however, a the gateways to the borough. The other, Freehold masterplan) and Anchor Mill shopping list, they are part of a coherent the Mumps Enterprise area within Oldham (see page 15). This will help to establish strategy for the renaissance of the borough. Town Centre should create a quality in- a market to encourage other mill owners town business location (see Town Centre and developers to do the same. Our market The overall aim of this strategy is Masterplan). research suggests that there are a number to kick start the virtuous circle of recovery of mill owners who would be interested in that we described in the vision whereby A creative borough: One of Old- this if values were right. In order to change each part of the strategy fuels the next. ham’s strengths is its creative people perceptions of the mills we are proposing Some of the 82 proposals are very basic, because of the excellent courses at that they should be illuminated which will like better street cleansing, improved the College. Preventing the loss of many of create a striking spectacle to people pass- services and support for existing business. these people to Manchester is an important ing through the borough. It is important to get these basics right and part of the strategy through the creation this is already happening. It is, however, of the Rhodes Bank Creative Quarter, the An intercultural borough: We are also important to have transformational development of a striking new home for the proposing new ways of addressing initiatives that can make a real difference. Coliseum and Peskar Productions and the the ethnic diversity of the borough. In We have therefore highlighted the ten main creative use of space within mills. this communities define themselves posi- initiatives that we are proposing: tively both by what makes them different The mills of Oldham: We are pro- and by what unites them. Activities which posing the gradual transformation of encourage intercultural exchange should the mills of the borough. While few be given priority for funding. The Housing of these are vacant, many are underused. Market Renewal process should be used to

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process should be used to reduce densities Oldham Edge to Alexandra Park linking the and to create a broader range of suburban countryside to the town. More symbolically housing. Over time this will strengthen our proposals across the borough, from local centres and transform housing choice the outdoors pursuit centres in Greenfield in the borough. to the regeneration of Oldham Athletic’s break down geographical ethnic segrega- Boundary Park ground and the ‘social tion by creating model, mixed neighbour- Regeneration web: A borough computer’ are all suggestions that will cre- hoods starting with Werneth/Freehold. the size of Oldham is impossible to ate places where the people of Oldham can Oldham should also celebrate all of its masterplan. Our physical proposals come together. ethnic groups through events and celebra- therefore use a ‘point and line’ technique tions throughout the year. It should also to reach across the whole borough. We Sustainability: We believe that create Zones of Exchange where the Asian have proposed a series of sculptures or environmental sustainability should and the White communities can meet and buildings in the heart of each community play a central part in the strategy trade (see Featherstall Road page 15). commissioned from world ‘renowned’ de- from the environmental efficiency of the signers. These would be linked together by housing stock to the economic impetus of An educated population: The improvements including lighting, signage environmental industries. proposal for the University College and tree planting along the major routes predates this study but is absolutely through the borough. The starting point for Many places not just one: Our central to the renaissance of the borough. this should be the boulevarding of the A62 proposals are based on a federal This will be the jewel in the crown of into Manchester. structure for the borough in which an education system that is completely people can feel a sense of belonging transformed from that of 10 years ago. This Common Ground: We have to their town and neighbourhood, their process is well underway and significant proposed a range of improvements borough and indeed Greater Manchester. improvements have been made in the to the public realm of the borough This involves the devolution of power to the achievement of school-leavers. The next - the spaces where people meet and local level, the regeneration of local town step is to look at the secondary schools of interact. The most important of these is and neighbourhood centres (regeneration the borough through PFI. Town Square, the refurbishment of the web) and the promotion of local pride and traditional heart of Oldham Town Centre identity. This is based on the idea that Smart communities: We have (see page 24). We have also proposed a people should be encouraged to relate to proposed a strategy for restructur- series of corridors through Oldham Town their local area and will feel more positively ing the housing neighbourhoods of Centre including Green Walk running from towards the borough as it becomes a place the western part of the borough through a to be proud of. Smart Communities plan. This would use Housing Market Renewal and feed into the local planning process. The aim is to create dense, urban, walkable neighbour- hoods around Metrolink stops and existing towns and neighbourhood centres (see Werneth/Freehold page 19 and Royton page 23). Away from these areas the HMR

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In order to look forward, one must first understand how we have got to it to fall into dereliction). It was the largest where we are today. The study therefore started by looking at Oldham’s Victorian town not to have a free public history, from its Victorian boom town roots through the decline of the library and there were years of acrimonious textile industry, the great optimism of the 1960s to the riots of 2001. debate over the development of Alexandra Oldham’s problems are not new but the pages of its history can also Park. The exception to this was education provide the clues to its renaissance. where industrialists were prepared to invest in institutions like the Bluecoat School and Boom town Oldham, unlike Rochdale or the Mechanic’s Institute (now the Lyceum). Bolton, was not a traditional market town. It The merchants of Oldham, with Oldham was the most important spinning was little more than a village, plucked from notable exceptions like Platt, were also centre in Lancashire when the county was obscurity by the Industrial Revolution and reluctant to get involved in the running of the the world centre for the cotton industry. made, within 50 years, into one of the most town. In 1902 only 12% of councillors were Lancashire was transformed in the nine- important towns in Britain. Its population business people and the press complained of teenth century from an ‘obscure, remote, increased from 12,000 in the 1830s to al- ‘an apathy to public life’. It remains difficult to insular’ backwater into the richest industr- most 150,000 by the First World War. This involve businesses in Oldham as witnessed ialised region in the world. This was driven growth that was more Klondike than Port by the problems of the Chamber of Com- by technological innovation in weaving Sunlight and as Engels describes, Oldham merce and the lack of an economic partner- and spinning, steam engines, canals and was ‘…badly and irregularly built with foul ship on the Local Strategic Partnership. railways. It led to the explosive growth of courts, lanes and back alleys and reeking The legacy of Oldham’s indus- Manchester, followed by satellite towns like of coal smoke’. trial past is its working class culture with Oldham that came to specialise in spinning: The town grew more quickly than important strands of radicalism and cosmo- at its peak in 1890 Oldham had 330 mills did its civic institutions. In Oldham public politanism. Many of the thousands who with an eighth of the world’s spindles. expenditure was seen as an overhead that marched at Peterloo in 1819 were spinners Oldham was also the leading manufacturer undermined the competitiveness of the from Oldham. The Chartist and Co-opera- of cotton machinery with Platts of Werneth town. It was thus the last Lancashire town tive movements put down strong roots in employing 15,000 people in the 1890s. to invest in a purpose-built town hall (and a the town and Oldham millworkers protested Smaller towns such as Cromp- century later would also be the first to allow in support of the emancipation of slaves. ton, Royton and Chadderton, specialised in heavy cotton products such as calico and velvet. These towns prospered greatly and in 1929 Shaw was described as the ‘richest little town in England’. Saddleworth, by contrast was seen as a rural backwater, with its textile industry based on the worsted (wool) trade for Yorkshire markets.

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However, this working class culture has of the first boroughs to introduce compre- the Council were successful in promoting always had a darker side and it is clear from hensive education and 1968 saw develop- a range of building projects including Town our consultation that Oldham’s ‘roughyed’ ments such as the concrete and glass St. Square and Spindles shopping centres, the culture and distrust of ‘outsiders’ remains an Peter’s shopping precinct along with the Business School and Sixth Form College issue today. Oldham Way and, a little later, the Civic and more recently, Gallery Oldham. Centre. For a while Oldham was the place to However, this external confidence A disappointing century be – a modern, model borough. masked internal tensions. From the 1970s The start of the 20th century was the many neighbouroods came to be associated zenith of Oldham’s success. However, by Creating the metropolitan borough with particular ethnic groups. In the absence the 1920s its cotton prices were being The 1960s was, however, not a good time to of concerted attempts to build intercultural undercut by foreign competition, ironically innovate. A number of these projects turned exchange and integration, these became often using machinery made in Oldham. sour leaving the Council with a legacy of defined by difference rather than commonal- The cotton industry entered a protracted debt and a loss of confidence. This led to ity. Well-intentioned attempts to address decline culminating in large scale closures resentment when in 1974 Oldham Metropol- need through area-based initiatives backfired in the 60s and 70s. Paradoxically, loss of itan Borough was created and absorbed the and became a source of resentment between confidence in the industry caused workers to town councils of Royton, Shaw, Chadderton, neighbourhoods fueling political extremism. leave, so in the midst of decline, it suffered Failsworth and Saddleworth. In few other This was a contributory factor to the outbreak labour shortages, particularly on the night places would the 1974 Local Government of rioting in May 2001 which brought shift. These jobs were filled, as they always reorganisation continue to be such a burning Oldham to prominence for all the wrong rea- had been, by immigrants, this time not from issue as it appears to be from our consulta- sons. The Independent Review (the Ritchie Ireland but from Pakistan and Bangladesh. tions as part of this study. Report) that followed the disturbances made These groups arrived to work in a declin- The recent history of Oldham has a series of recommendations that were ing industry in a town with little tradition of seen mixed fortunes. It saw success in the reinforced by a critical Audit Commission welcoming outsiders. 1980s and early 1990s as the new motor- Report. Oldham had become inward-looking, way links enabled mills to find new uses fixed in its ways and wary of independent Model town such as distribution and mail order. Oldham voices. Since that time there have been Yet from this despair came one of the most Athletic FC (the Latics) were doing well and widespread change in the borough and the energetic periods of Oldham’s history. In Council. There remain important problems, the 1960s, what the Labour Minister Richard particularly in the areas of civic society and Crossman called, the ‘Oldham experiment’ social cohesion. However, there is a feeling put the town at the centre of the govern- that a corner has been turned and there is ment’s ‘white heat of technology’ revolution. a new sense of optimism in the borough. The St. Mary’s estate was the first deck ac- Oldham Beyond has been commissioned to cess housing project in the UK and attracted harness this spirit to develop a vision to take huge attention. In 1966 Oldham became one the borough forward with confidence.

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As party of the study a wide range of research and consultations have been undertaken. These are summarised as appendices to this report and full write-ups are available as separate working papers. This re- search has been condensed into a set of drivers for change that have been used to shape the strategy.

The research and consultation undertaken borough there are a number of drivers that to leave. It also means that companies as part of the study includes: make change a necessity. looking to relocate can see nowhere in the centre of the borough for their managers Consultations with more than 2,000 Population: While the borough’s overall to live. This relates in part to middle-class people (Appendix 1) population is stable this masks population suburbs, however today it might equally re- growth in some areas and moderate decline late to ‘loft apartments’ and urban housing. A renaissance audit that has compared in the urban parts of the borough. While This is the type of housing likely to appeal Oldham to a number of similar towns this is not yet a major problem it has the to the young and talented as much as the (Appendix 2) potential to undermine the competitive- three bedroom semi. ness of the borough since it tends to be the A review of the borough’s economy by talented and motivated who leave. This was The future of terraces: 67% of Oldham’s King Sturge (Appendix 2) a point emphasised by the Oldham Beyond housing stock is in the form of Victorian focus groups where many participants said terraces and a proportion of the rest is A review of cultural activity and provi- that they felt that their children would have in high-rise and deck-access council sion by Comedia (Appendix 3) to move away in order to get on. housing. It is not possible, nor we believe desirable, to replace all of this housing An assessment of accessibility by WSP The lost middle class: Oldham is a work- in the foreseeable future. The Housing (Appendix 4) ing class town and the western part of the Market Renewal process therefore needs a borough lacks the areas of middle-class twin-track approach of planned redevelop- An urban design study by URBED (Ap- housing found around similar towns. Many ment of the poorest stock and measures pendix 5) of the borough’s middle-classes live in to improve the remaining homes and to Saddleworth, which has stronger rail links stimulate the terraced housing market. It is clear from this work that there are parts to Manchester and indeed Leeds than it of the borough that are currently doing well does to Oldham. The lack of aspirational Employment change: Oldham has and where radical change is not needed. housing in the west of the borough adds responded well to the loss of the textile However, in the more urbanised parts of the to the pressure on people who do well industry but has diversified into sectors

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Oldham therefore has a poor external image and an even poorer self-image. This is a major impediment to the regeneration of the borough and must be addressed along- side the borough’s other problems.

Oldham’s problems have been the focus that are also declining and which remain for a significant amount of the work of the low skill and low wage. It therefore remains Oldham Beyond team and are not to be vulnerable to rationalisation or the transfer underestimated. However, these problems of employment overseas. in areas such as housing and the economy are similar to those faced by many industrial Community cohesion: It is clear that the towns. There are two characteristics that tensions between communities in Oldham have emerged from the Oldham Beyond remain an important issue and that the consultation that make Oldham different. most important of these tensions relates to race. The growth in the Asian commu- place for living, leisure and culture as well nity will cause them to expand out of the as shopping and drinking. relatively small areas where they are cur- rently concentrated. It is therefore vital to The image of Oldham: One of the prob- create models for harmonious inter-cultural lems of industrial towns is getting noticed. neighbourhoods. We believe that Werneth/ While cities tend to have strong images Freehold is an excellent opportunity to do – either positive or negative - many indus- this. If this is to work, all communities in trial towns suffer from a weak rather than a the borough, including the white commu- particularly negative image. Because there nity need to feel more valued and believe are so many of these towns it is difficult The first is a breakdown of under- that their problems and aspirations are to stand out of the crowd. This explains standing and trust between different ethnic being addressed. the proposals in Barnsley to reinvent itself groups in the borough and the residential as a Tuscan hill town and to project a segregation of different ethnic groups. The The town centre: Oldham town centre is halo of light into the sky that can be seen second linked characteristic is a loss of the economic heart of the borough, a major from Sheffield. Oldham, however, has a self-confidence and pride in the borough centre for employment and wealth creation bigger problem than most industrial towns and its future. Our consultations suggest as well as creating the image and ‘shop because the disturbances mean that it has that many people feel faintly embarrassed front’ of the borough. The town centre has been noticed for all of the wrong reasons. to say that they come from Oldham even not realised its full potential and it now though they remain loyal and proud of their faces significant challenges from sur- town or neighbourhood. Oldham Beyond rounding centres that are improving their needs to build upon this, unite the people offer. The town centre therefore needs to of the borough and start to change internal improve if it is to retain its current position and external perceptions. In developing this and yet has the potential to do even better vision the Oldham Beyond team has been than this. An important part of this is the exploring two scenarios, which are explored diversification of the centre’s offer as a in the next section.

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While many parts of the borough are doing well there is a need to comparing Oldham to Newham in London. transform the western parts of the borough, particularly Oldham town. Both are in the ‘east end’ and were seen In doing this we need to ask some important questions about who will for years as backwaters. Newham however live in Oldham, where they will earn their money and the image that has revived itself and in particular is seen people will have of Oldham. In answering these questions we must look to have transformed itself from one of the at Oldham both in relation to Greater Manchester and as an independ- worst governed boroughs to one of the ent industrial town. best. It is also the focus for major regen- eration initiatives as part of the Thames

Manchester’s Northern Quarter Gateway including the new University of ‘Greater’ Manchester: East London. Manchester is presently regared as an urban renaissance success story. 300,000 jobs are ‘Oldham’ Renaissance predicted to be created in central Manches- Oldham is far more than a commuter ter in the next five years much of which is centre. There are far more people living and based on the ‘Knowledge Capital’ initiative. working in the borough than there are who This builds on the merger of Manchester commute into Manchester. Indeed there University and UMIST and uses knowledge are almost 20,000 people who commute industries as a major spur for economic to work into Oldham from surrounding bor- growth. Just as Oldham grew up, in part, as Shaw. Commuting into Manchester will be oughs. It is also important to recognise that a satellite of Manchester, it must base its made easier and the areas around stations Manchester’s economic recovery is patchy. recovery, in part at least, on Manchester’s will become attractive to people working While parts of Manchester are booming, revival. in Manchester but looking for affordable there are substantial areas where there are This could take a number of forms housing close to attractive countryside. problems far greater than those in Oldham, including an increase in commuting into One analogy for this is Greater not least in East Manchester. It is also true Manchester from Oldham. This already hap- London. Most of the London boroughs are that Oldham must compete with the other pens to an extent; travel to work figures show based on towns that were absorbed into seven Greater Manchester towns for the that 12,200 people commute every day from London. There is a certain symmetry in benefits of Manchester’s growth. Oldham into Manchester while only 2,760 travel the other way. This will be greatly assisted by the expansion of the Metrolink network which is due to more than double over the next decade. This will give Man- chester a ‘Tube map’ similar to London’s which will include stations in Failsworth, Werneth, Oldham Town Centre, Derker and

University of East London in Newham - 12 - - 13 - Oldham Beyond - A Vision for the Borough of Oldham - April 2004

Hollinwood make the area work as a destination it needs a mix of other uses which could include housing, One of the smaller demonstrator plans under- leisure uses, retailing that will not compete with taken as part of Oldham Beyond has looked the town centre, and associated eating and at the Hollinwood area as a potential site for drinking uses. inward investment. Hollinwood is a gateway to the borough standing at the junction of the M60, the A62 and the Metrolink. This is combined with a significant amount of land that is either vacant or underdeveloped creating an important opportunity for a transformational develop- ment as the most prominent inward-investment location in Oldham. This is a location that can attract commercial uses into a high quality business environment that promotes economic development and projects a strong image for Oldham. The main part of the development mix should therefore be B1 offices. However, to

So while Oldham’s future must University College. This is vital to Old- devastated by the closure of its mills. As be based in part on Manchester’s recovery, ham’s independence because it will help to part of its strategy for recovery it started it must also look to its own renaissance as retain talented people and to attract young by making itself into a good place to live a strong, independent borough. This means people to the borough as well as strengthen and many of its people found work by retaining Oldham’s character as somewhere its image. However, while the University commuting into Boston to work. However, distinct from Manchester – more Newark College will be allied to Huddersfield as a result of improving its ‘liveability’ the than Newham – a borough where people University it should also be linked to the town started to attract economic activity can live and work and where they feel a Manchester Knowledge Capital Initiative including Wang computers that established strong sense of belonging to the borough and should exploit the prestige of the itself in a former mill. Gradually economic as well as their town and neighbourhood. Manchester Universities. We believe that activity started moving out of Boston and This implies a transformation of Oldham this should be reflected in the name of the people who had been attracted to the town town centre to secure its role as a major institution. started businesses. Today there are as shopping centre and as a place for leisure It is also important to remember many people commuting from Boston to and civic life. It also depends on the eco- that the borough of Oldham is greater than Lowell as there are in the other direction. It nomic development to generate new wealth the town and that different approaches is this type of model that has been explored and a focus on liveability in the borough. may be appropriate in different parts of the by the Oldham Beyond study. Inevitably the future for Oldham borough. Saddleworth, for example, acts as

will include elements of both of these a commuter suburb for Oldham but also for Former mills reused for high-tech companies in Lowell approaches. It will never be entirely Manchester and Leeds because of its rail independent of Manchester and would be links. Failsworth relates as much to Man- foolish not to take advantage of the current chester as it does to Oldham while Royton growth of the city. However, Oldham is and Shaw see themselves as independent more than a satellite of Manchester and Lancashire towns. it can and should rediscover its role as a One model for this type of growth proud, independent town. is Lowell near Boston in the US. This, A good example of this is the like Oldham, was a textile town that was

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George Yard in Barnsley - upmarket cafes and restaurants

The issues faced by Oldham are not unique. They are faced to a ment were accepted facts of life. In the last greater or lesser extent by many of the towns that were created by few decades this stable economic ‘eco the Industrial Revolution. While the industrial cities have been re- system’ has broken down. The traditional markably successful at reinveniting themselves in the last decade, manufacturing base of these towns has real questions remain as to how to do the same for the much more disappeared and the new economic activ- numerous industrial towns. ity that has been attracted is often more footloose, low skilled and poorly paid. Increased mobility and better transport

Manningham Mill in Bradford an Urban Splash development links mean that these towns can no longer The Industrial Revolution created a dense rely on captive markets but must compete network of closely spaced towns in Northern to attract employers, residents and shop- England unlike anywhere else in the world. pers. URBED’s work on the renaissance of These towns grew rapidly and some, often industrial towns suggests that their future the least organised, carried on growing to depends on the following issues: become cities. However, most remained as towns and their economic dynamic is Liveability: The most important issue very different to a city. When cities reach a is the quality of life in the town, what is certain size they are able to suck in people now called ‘liveability’. This is based on and investment from a wide area. Towns by Platt’s in Oldham (that once helped to a range of factors including the quality of contrast have more stable economic ‘eco support 42% of the town’s population). education, levels of crime, local services, systems’. They grew up, or expanded, in These towns thrived, not because cultural facilities, the housing stock and the locations that were suitable for manufactur- they were attractive or pleasant places to quality of the environment. Liveable towns ing industry and were clustered around the be, but because they generated wealth and retain their existing population and attract mills and factories because people were not people were stuck with them. Most people people from outside. Liveable towns are able to travel far to work. The limited ability had little choice over where they lived, and popular, attractive places that also tend to to travel also meant that towns, like those in low housing standards and a poor environ- have high business start-up rates. They are Oldham, could grow up close to each other also attractive to inward investors, partly without being in direct competition. It is because they are good places to be but possible to see Oldham Parish Church from also because they have a stock of skilled the centre of Royton but it grew up as an articulate employees. independent town. Many places became dominated Wealth creation: The second issue is by one industry and some even by just one where people earn their money. Here there major employer such as ICI in Middles- are broadly two options. Traditionally in brough, Pilkingtons in St. Helens or indeed industrial towns people earned their money Environmental improvements in Wigan

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Featherstall Road in London. This does not presently happen in This demonstrator plan suggests the develop- Oldham other than in the Open Market because ment of a section of Featherstall Road as a most of the Asian commercial areas serve a centre for Asian restaurants and retailing. This largely Asian market. is seen as a Zone of exchange and understand- This builds on some progress that has been ing as part of the overall vision – a place where made and the aspirations of the Featherstall the Asian community can trade and interact Road Traders Association. It also ties in with the with the white community as happens in places proposed conversion of Anchor Mill for a range like Rusholme in Manchester and Brick Lane of business uses possibly including an Asian Walsall Gallery - Iconic architecture on a small scale Bazaar and the community’s intention to build a Mosque. The masterplan suggests a series of temporary uses similar to Gabriel’s Wharf in London as a spur to developing this activity with development of housing and permanent facilities following. Key to the proposals is a new surface link over Oldham Way to the College and beyond to the town centre.

locally and, as they became more affluent, Distinctiveness: Unlike cities, towns they tended to live outside the town. In need to fight to be noticed because there this way industrial towns were great wealth are so many of them. Many towns have a creators but tended to ‘export’ this wealth. weak image. However, as described above, Alternatively suburbs generate little wealth in Oldham’s case its image has become but attract people who work elsewhere. negative. This has a real effect on people’s These elements need to form the basis of They are therefore ‘importers’ of wealth and decisions about where to live or locate their the vision for Oldham. We have therefore many grow rich in this way. Whichever way business developed them into a strategy for the ren- the wealth is earned, the key to a prosper- aisance of Oldham set out in the following ous town is encouraging people to spend Leadership: While cities can sometimes section. This strategy is developed into five their money locally. In this way the wealth thrive despite their leadership, towns themes: Wealth Creation and Liveability, A supports local jobs and businesses and almost never can. The ability of a town to Learning Community - which focuses on is recycled through a number of pockets organise and to unite behind a shared vi- education, Common Ground - which looks before leaving the town. sion is crucial to its success. This includes at the physical environment and planning all sectors, the local authority, public of the borough and New Oldham which Community and belonging: Most towns institutions, the business sector and the develops ideas of community cohesion and generate feelings of loyalty to a much community. The vehicle for this is the LSP governance. greater extent than cities. This is one area that together with the NWDA has commis- where towns have an advantage because sioned this study. people choose to live, work and do busi- This leadership has in the past ness in a town because it is their commu- sometimes been lacking in Oldham. There nity, regardless of the attractions of other has also been a lack of civic society as places. This has insulated many towns we have described elsewhere. The current from the worst effects of decline but it is initiative to develop a shared vision is hugely worrying that people seem to feel less of a encouraging. It demonstrates a clear sense connection to Oldham. of ambition and partnership working. Warrington - A new contemporary public space

- 14 - - 15 - A landmark enterprise quarter at Mumps

Oldham Beyond - A Vision for the Borough of Oldham - April16th March2004 2004

Oldham Beyond - A vision for the Borough of Oldham - 10rd March 2004

Encouraging New Firm Foundation: Wealth Creation Oldham has a low rate of new business A fundamental question for the borough is where wealth is created. While registrations. Entrepreneurs need to be many of Oldham’s people will travel outside the borough to work in the supported and the conditions created for future, particularly to the NWDA’s nearby strategic development sites, start-ups. This should focus on graduates Oldham must also generate more wealth internally. In doing this it must with business aspirations and include the compete in a global as well as regional market. under-realised potential of the Asian com- munity, especially the young. An important Our economic analysis of Oldham shows and tackling problems. For smaller firms this part of this are the proposals for the Rhodes that it successfully diversified following the can be done through a One-stop-shop pro- Bank Creative Quarter. Creative industries loss of its textile industry. The new areas viding support and links to other agencies. employ more than 3,200 people in Oldham. of employment have, however, tended to There is also a need to involve employers in Distinctive clusters could include the media, perpetuate the borough’s low skill/low the borough through an economic partner- performing arts, urban/youth music and wage economy and are vulnerable to future ship for the LSP and business networks: Asian performance and visual arts. An early decline. It is therefore important that Oldham Other initiatives should look at training and project could be the collaboration between protects its employment base and continues recruitment support and a ladder of accom- the Chronicle and New Roots music devel- to diversify its economy through inward in- modation to enable companies to expand, opment agency. vestment and new economic activity. It must consolidate or downsize. also tap into the growth potential of Greater Reusing the mills: An important part of Manchester and particularly the Knowledge Inward investment: Oldham has recently this strategy is the creative use of the 138 Capital initiative. In this respect the comple- been identified as a possible site for the re- mills that survive in Oldham. While there tion of Metrolink is important since it will tie location of government office functions such remains a strong market for mills, many do Oldham into the wider connurbation. as call centres and document processing not generate sufficient value to maintain the and there are also opportunities for private fabric of the buildings. There is we believe Protecting jobs: The first step must be to inward investment. The Council should iden- the potential to use the mills more innova- protect and expand existing employment. tify sites and work with MIDAS to identify tively to support new and creative business. This can be done through accounts manag- the needs of the sectors most appropriate for As pilots for this we have looked at Hartford ers in the council to act as a single point of Oldham. Key sites are at Hollinwood on the Mill in Werneth, the Gem Mill in Chadderton contact for major firms delivering services motorway junction, and in Mumps. and Anchor Mill on Featherstall Road.

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Encouraging New Firm Foundation Zetex Aim: To create the conditions to allow busi- nesses to be created. Oldham to high-tech companies (Zetex are there Zetex are consolidating their operations at One stop shop: See above by historical accident). It would help develop Landsdowne Road in Chadderton. This is a Business incubators: Managed work- workforce skills as well as a focus for design and modern plant but is surrounded by uses that are space to support new business not good for the image of the plant or indeed for innovation. There is a synergy between this and Oldham’s Asian population given that the major the clean air that it needs. The masterplan pro- Creative industries: centre for predicted future growth in high-tech poses to relocate these uses to create serviced Aim: To nurture a creative business cluster of industries is the Indian sub-continent. sites for more high-tech industries that would be regional or national significance interested in locating near to Zetex. Rhodes Bank: Promotion as a creative The other part of the masterplan proposes industries quarter. the reuse of a mill as a ‘Social Computer’ as Vocational skills: Links the college part of a network of similar facilities supported media and performing arts courses. by the EU and IBM. This would be a facility Music production: Support for the where high tech companies collaborate with the proposed production centre. public on product development and testing. The two proposals are linked because the Reusing the mills Social Computer would increase the attraction of Aim: To use space in mills more intensively to promote economic activity Hartford Mill: Conversion to workspace Tourism: Oldham should use its tourist as- recycling initiatives. There are important housing and community facilities sets including Saddleworth and its gateway opportunities in the HMR areas to use public Anchor Mill: Conversion to an Asian function to the national park as an economic investment to promote social enterprises. Bazaar and workspace driver. This has been explored through the A powerful alliance of local organizations Another Mill: Conversion to a Social Computer (see above) Robert Fletcher demonstrator plan. We do – The Oldham Collective – is already in not however believe that there is the scope place to drive the initiative Tourism to develop a industrial heritage attraction Aim: To exploit the borough’s tourism assets. given those that already exist in the region. Robert Fletcher: Conversion to an extreme sports and national park centre. Zones of exchange: Protecting jobs Town centre: Broadening the attractions of the centre such as a new cinema, We believe that the economic potential of Aim: To ensure that existing firms thrive and remain in the borough. restaurants and Coliseum the Asian community is under-exploited Accounts managers: A single point of partly because Asian businesses trade contact for major employers Zones of exchange largely within the Asian community. There A one stop shop: To give advice and Aim: To create areas for economic interac- is we believe the potential to create areas support smaller firms tion between communities where Asian businesses can reach a wider Business network: Where businesses Featherstall Road: The promotion of restaurants, shops and the Anchor Mill market particularly in Oldham Town Centre, can come together for mutual benefit JET Centres (Jobs, Employment, Training) Bazaar. Tommyfield Market and Featherstall Road. Offering employment and training advice. A ladder of accommodation: Allowing Social Enterprise Social Enterprise: There is potential for firms to expand, consolidate or downsize. Aim: To establish social enterprise as a sig- widening involvement in wealth creation by nificant strand of service provision and wealth promoting of Social Enterprises – business Attracting Inward investment: creation for the borough Aim: to create opportunities for inward whose surpluses are used to deliver social Opportunities: A social enterprise investment. objectives. These can include housing co- Hollinwood: The promotion of the area opportunity audit to identify three pilot operatives, credit unions, home mainte- around the motorway junction. initiatives in care, housing maintenance nance organisations, managed workspaces, Mumps: A new town centre business location. and environmental services.

- 16 - - 17 - The creation of an Asian Bazaar and market on Featherstall Road including the conversion of Anchor Mill

Oldham Beyond - A Vision for the Borough of Oldham - April16th March2004 2004

Oldham Beyond - A vision for the Borough of Oldham - 10rd March 2004

Liveability

The key to the future of boroughs like Oldham is to make themselves the potential to project a much more positive good places to live for the whole population. In this way they will retain image of the Borough. talented and creative people and attract new people into the borough. Employers will be able to attract a better workforce and businesses The housing market will be more likely to locate here. The most ‘liveable’ town in the UK at A key aspect to liveability is the housing present is Bath, which also has the highest rate of new business forma- market that we have explored through our tion. work on Housing Market Renewal – see Oldham Beyond Housing Working Paper. The liveability agenda encompasses a wide home in parts of the town. As we describe Oldham has a weak housing market but range of issues that are covered elsewhere in the New Oldham section, this needs to be in these themes. It relates to the range and addressed head on and turned from a weak- condition of housing but also the perform- ness into a strength. Reasearch by Professor ance of local schools, the cleanliness of Richard Florida in the US has shown that the environment, the efficiency of local the most successful and attractive places services, the quality of the town centres in the future will be those with the most and the levels of crime. As the Oldham diverse populations. He was commissioned Beyond Renaissance Audit shows, Oldham by Demos1 to prepare a ‘Boho Index’ of the does not do well in many of these areas at UK which ranked Oldham 36th out of 40 in the moment and there is a need to really terms of population but 22nd in terms of has not experienced the collapse that focus on these issues. diversity and creativity. Werneth/Freehold, has taken place elsewhere (such as East as one of the most ethnically mixed parts of Manchester). The private sector vacancy Social Cohesion Oldham, has the potential to create a model rate is 3.7%, lower than the regional aver- However, the most important liveability issue for this type of harmonious community in age of 4.8% and in much of the Borough in Oldham at present is community cohesion Oldham. The development of Featherstall house prices are only marginally lower and the fact that many people do not feel at Road and inter-cultural festivals also have than the regional average. The problems are concentrated in the terraced stock 1. Boho Britain Creativity Index - Richard Florida, pub- lished by Demos May 2003 - http://www.demos.co.uk/ - 18 - - 19 - Oldham Beyond - A Vision for the Borough of Oldham - April 2004

Social Cohesion Robert Fletcher Greenfield Aim: To turn Oldham’s diversity from a source of conflict into one of the attractions The demonstrator plan envisages the develop- of the borough ment of the Robert Fletcher site in Greenfield Social Cohesion measures: See New as a resource that can provide a recreational Oldham theme. resource to the entire borough and a gateway Werneth/Freehold model: The regenera- to the Peak District National Park. One idea is to tion of a confident, mixed neighbourhood develop the site as a study centre for all schools a model which others may choose to in the borough with associated facilities includ- follow. ing, extreme indoor and outdoor sports, national Featherstall Road: An Asian entertain- park centre, accommodation, conference facili- ment area as a zone of interchange with ties and associated uses for eating and drinking. a wider market. This would bring a prominent vacant site in the Cultural life: Using animation and most sensitive part of the borough back into cultural activities to break down barriers use, promote the leisure economy to the benefit between young people. of the borough as a whole and create a ‘com- mon ground’ resource for all the people of the Housing Markets borough to experience the Saddleworth area. Aim: A healthy housing market across the borough. Housing Market Pilot areas: The devel- explicit aim of this vision, the population opment of the pilot areas in Freehold and will undoubtedly increase if the vision is Deker to demonstrate the improvement successful. of terraced housing areas that can be ap- A central part of the vision is to plied to other neighbourhoods. Thematic work: Work across the hous- broaden the range of housing available in ing market renewal areas to address Oldham so that people wishing to live in environmental problems and voids. the borough have a wider choice of hous- ing than just terraces. This will encourage A place to be a broader range of people to choose to live Aim: To broaden the range of housing avail- which makes up 60% of the privately in Oldham and can be achieved through able to encourage people to choose to live in owned housing in the Borough (40,000 Housing Market Renewal. This involves the borough. Compact nodes: The development of properties). The Housing Market Renewal two components. The first is aspirational areas around transport nodes and town Initiative needs to replace the poorest of urban housing and apartments around the centres for compact urban housing. these terraces while reviving the market for Metrolink stations, Oldham Town Centre New suburbs: The thinning out of other those that remain. and smaller centres. This will cater for the parts of the HMR area to create more changing demographics of the housing family housing with gardens. A place to be market and the growth in demand from At Home in Oldham As part of this vision we are proposing childless households. Aim: To make Oldham a good place to live by substantial new housebuilding in parts of However, allied to this should improving services. the borough. These include the proposals be the redevelopment of other HMR areas Street Cleansing: See Common Ground for the Werneth/Freehold area, develop- at lower densities with a greater number Education: See Learning Community ment around the Oldham and Royton of family homes with gardens. This twin Crime: Continuing the work that is being town centres and in a number of the other strategy we have called a Smart Communi- done through the area committees and LSP with the police. demonstrators such as Hollinwood. This ties Plan and is described in more detail in Services: Extending the work through has the potential to increase the popula- the Common Ground section. the area committees to improve council tion of the borough; although this is not an services making them more responsive to local needs.

- 18 - - 19 - The new home for Oldham Coliseum and Peskar Productions at the junction of Middleton Road and Rochdale Road

Oldham Beyond - A Vision for the Borough of Oldham - April 2004

Oldham Beyond - A vision for the Borough of Oldham - 10rd March 2004

A Learning Community Oldham has a young population unlike the aging population of many Recent work has looked at towns and cities. These young people are Oldham’s future: it is through secondary school buildings and ways of them that Oldham will rebuild mutual respect, cohesion and citizenship. using the government’s Schools for the It is also these young people who will form the future workforce, create Future programme to redevelop and even wealth, provide leadership and galvanise the Borough. For this to hap- relocate schools. The aim is to better relate pen two issues must be addressed: the low skills-base of the population schools to their communities. It also seeks and the loss of talented young Oldhamers who are taking their energy, to overcome the racial polarisation that has optimism and talents elsewhere. taken place in certain schools. This under- mines social cohesion but is very difficult to Long-term improvement in standards of Secondary schools counter in an era of parental choice. education and learning are vital to the The vision aims to maintain and build levels We recommend that Oldham revival of Oldham. This is a field where real of aspiration and performance from 14 so explores ways of creating secondary schools progress has been made. There is a sense that more 19 year olds reach higher educa- with a diverse intercultural mix of pupils of optimism in the borough’s schools. The tion (HE) and better jobs. This includes the whilst we aknowledge that there are legal Sixth Form College is a huge success and Oldham Junior University, a programme and practical factors that need to be consid- now draws young people from outside the of mentors to tackle those educational and ered. One possibility would be to develop a borough. The College and Business School cultural barriers to HE. new model school for intercultural education are strong and together have brought the that would recapture Oldham’s reputation University College idea within Oldham’s as an educational pioneer by acting as a grasp. The Local Learning Partnership has resource for the whole of the borough and developed an ambitious vision to take this to exploring new forms of teaching. the next stage, which we endorse. Higher Education The proposed development of a Univer- sity College in Oldham is one of the most important initiatives for the borough. It is a

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Town Centre

One of the two major masterplans undertaken as including the shopping heart, the Rhodes Bank part of the Oldham Beyond study has focused creative quarter, a new West End south of the on Oldham Town Centre. This sets out a strategy Civic Centre based around a new Coliseum and for the town centre based on eight themes; its Roxy cinema, a ‘top of the town’ housing area importance as a community hub, the better close to St. Mary’s Way an educational campus integration of the centre into the rest of the town, based around the University College and a and its roles as a cultural centre and a place Mumps Enterprise area. to learn, shop, do business, play and live. The strategy sets out proposals for three corridors through and around the centre to overcome the barriers that currently deter some people from using the town centre. These include the Golden Road from Featherstall Road along High Street and Yorkshire Street to Mumps, the Green Walk from Oldham Edge to Alexandra Park and the boulevard along Oldham Way. The strategy also suggests a series of town centre quarters

radical solution to the low aspiration /low professionals initiative and programmes for skill cycle and will raise the number of HE re-skilling the workforce and communities students from almost 1000 to 5000 by the which we fully endorse. We have suggested year 2010 in a purpose-built campus. We two further initiatives to add to this work. The fully endorse this new level of ambition for first is a Young People’s Enterprise Centre, Higher education Aim: To retain and attract talented young Oldham and believe that it has tremendous with a twin focus on social enterprise and people in the borough and to increase potential to boost the borough’s economy creative industries. This would include Oldham’s profile. and status by bringing extra spending power, managed workspaces alongside advice and University College: Support for the de- attracting active, confident citizens, putting support to young people and could form part velopment of the University College and for Oldham on other people’s radar screens and of the Rhodes Bank Creative Quarter. Our the continued development of the College, driving urban regeneration. However, we second suggestion is a Vocational Centre for and Sixth Form College. Masterplan for Campus: The develop- believe that the impact of the University Col- Excellence for Craft Skills, linked to Oldham ment of a detailed masterplan for the town lege will be even greater if it is linked to the College. This would cater for the increasing centre learning campus Knowledge Capital Initiative in Manchester. demand for vocational skills and perhaps would be located in a refurbished mill. Further and adult education Further and Adult Education Aim: To provide lifelong learning opportuni- Important as the University College is, it Schools ties for all people in the borough. Aim: To raise the aspirations and achieve- Local Learning Partnership: Support is only part of the picture in a borough. ment of children in the borough. for the Oldham Apprentice, Grow our own There have been some significant recent Twinning: Support for the continuation professionals and workforce reskilling improvements in the attainment of school of the programme of twinning schools in initiatives. leavers in the borough but the population as different parts of the borough. Young People’s Enterprise Centre: a whole still has low levels of qualifications. Junior University: Endorsement of the The development of a centre to provide The Learning Partnership has a number of programme of mentoring and support for workspace and support for young people 14-19 year olds. starting in business excellent initiatives in this area including Intercultural school: Explore the possibil- Vocational centre for Excellence in the Oldham Apprentice, the ‘Grow our own’ ity of creating a model intercultural school Craft Skills: An initiative in the College for in the borough. young people to develop practical skills.

- 20 - - 21 - The green Boulevard along Oldham Way using the land released when the railway line when Metrolink opens

Oldham Beyond - A vision for the Borough of Oldham - 10rd March 2004

Oldham Beyond - A Vision for the Borough of Oldham - April16th March2004 2004

Sustainable Oldham the heating costs for local people and ‘green The renaissance of the Borough of Oldham must be built on a firm foun- industries’ such as remanufacturing parks dation of sustainability. Concern to protect the environment far from being and environmental technology centres a barrier to renaissance is rather an opportunity to demonstrate how could generate wealth, as well as contribut- pressing environmental issues can be tackled to the benefit of the quality ing to Oldham’s image as an innovator in of life and prosperity of the borough. sustainability. This is a long-term challenge, but a sustainability strategy for Oldham is The problems of industrial towns like areas such as transport. likely include: Oldham have predominantly been character- Energy use is currently con- ised economically and socially. tributing to the rapid depletion of natural Awareness raising: Ensuring that the Issues such as climate change and resource resources and the rise of environmental whole community is aware of environmental depletion can often come across as marginal problems such as climate change. There issues and how they can do ‘their bit’. to the day-to-day lives of people (especially is a need in Oldham to improve energy in poorer and deprived areas). However, en- efficiency and to expoit opportunities for Education: Ensuring that sustainability vironmental problems manifest themselves sustainable energy production. is part of everyday thinking and action, in the form of social and economic concerns Waste is a core local author- particularly through targeting the younger such as fuel poverty, litter, air pollution and ity function and Oldham must reduce the generation. broader issues such as the erosion of social amount of waste it produces, by promot- capital. ing the waste hierarchy of ‘reduce, reuse, Eco-pioneers: Changing Oldham’s image Sustainability covers a broad recycle’. by being a focal point for eco-pioneers in spectrum of issues including energy, recy- Sustainability initiatives are not green housing and industry. Showcasing this cling, transport, water use, pollution etc... just something that should be done for could also be used to attract visitors from We have concentrated here on energy and the sake of the environment. There is the across the region. recycling although other parts of the strategy potential to use environmental initiatives as such as the Smart Communities plan will a central part of the borough’s renaissance. Community stakeholding Local ownership have important environmental benefits in For example energy efficiency will reduce of and investment in environmental projects.

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Werneth/Freehold was therefore able to propose to expand the area’s population without increasing densities Werneth/Freehold is one of the two pilot areas while also increasing open space provision and (the other being Derker) being put forward by space standards. The retention and expansion of Oldham as part of the Housing Market Renewal the population of the area was appropriate given Programme to revive weak housing markets. The the proximity of a proposed Metrolink station. The Werneth / Freehold area covers 1,883 proper- plan also proposes the conversion of the derelict ties and the masterplan has formed part of a Hartford Mill to a mix of apartments, workspace £55 million bid to the Housing Market Renewal and community facilities. Programme which has since been approved. provides local people with a shareholding The masterplan was developed in close con- and returns on their financial investment. sultation with local people including a three-day Community energy centres: Using workshop and an exhibition. The resulting plan combined heat and power technology (CHP) proposed the demolition of 752 properties in two to deliver affordable warmth and electricity clearance areas and the development of 691 new for new housing. These could be fuelled by homes and 295 flats. This included the develop- biomass woodfuel and could use the engine ment of under-used surrounding land. As part of rooms of mills (see Hertford Mill). this a Concerto bid was submitted to address the Solar communities: The establishment of energy efficiency of the housing. The masterplan co-operatives to install solar arrays across large numbers of homes and community Innovation: Oldham should support New financing and investment mecha- buidlings. This would reduce costs through initiative and enterprise. This may include nisms: Creating finance mechanisms such bulk purchase, pool electricity sales and developing research and development links as Community Land Trusts and revolving support local installers. with local universities. loans to help homeowners improve the ef- Solar Manufacturing: Establishing a solar ficiency of their homes. module manufacturing plant to link supply Innovative new-build housing: Demon- and demand. Rewards and incentives: Developing a strating high standards of energy efficiency range of approaches to encourage the Bor- in new housing (e.g. BedZED or Integer) by Waste ough’s citizens to participate in environmen- working with innovative developers. Aims: To reduce the amount of waste so tal projects and realise tangible gains. Sustainable upgrades: Building the capac- minimising resource demand and consump- ity of local contractors to upgrade housing tion, and environmental damage. including sustainable building components. ‘Green collar’ opportunities: Developing Kerbside collection services: Extend Energy technology centre: A centre apprenticeships and employment oppor- the pilot kerbside collection service to the of regional excellence to develop and whole borough using a community recycling tunities in order to realise the value of the demonstrate best practice and sustainable company . emerging environmental industry sector. technologies (such as CAT in North Wales). Recycling centres: To develop spin-off Community learning initiative: Encourag- enterprises recovering, refurbishing and Energy efficiency ing practical measures such as energy-ef- dismantling waste products. Aim: To reduce energy consumption in ficient light bulbs and appliances. ‘Community value’: Pilot schemes that Oldham and the consequences of resource encourage communities to realise the value depletion and environmental degradation. Energy supply of their waste, including local ‘buy-back Aim: To reduce the demand for non-renewable shops’ and neighbourhood composting. energy resources. Recycling industries: Wealth creation Wind power: Using a range of technologies, strategy based on reprocessing and value- prototype turbine designs, to exploit added manufacturing. Opportunities could Oldham’s wind resource. This could include be in the traditional sectors of paper and Oldham Edge, Oldham Way, Werneth/ textile, as well as polymers and insulation. Freehold HMR area and Saddleworth. Recycled warmth: Establishing a manu- Community owned wind farms: A local facturing plant for newsprint insulation to source of energy, run as a co-operative that deliver home energy improvements.

- 22 - - 23 - The refurbished Town Square in the centre of Oldham with the extended shopping centre and Arcade.

Oldham Beyond - A Vision for the Borough of Oldham - April16th March2004 2004

Oldham Beyond - A vision for the Borough of Oldham - 10rd March 2004

Common Ground One of the key issues in Oldham’s regeneration is the quality of the borough’s streets, parks and public spaces – its public realm. This is an and high-accessibility nodes (or Ped-Sheds) important part of liveability and affects people’s confidence and pride in particularly around Metrolink stops. In these the borough and their choices of where to live, work and do business. areas (see Town Centre, Werneth/Freehold It is also the space in which the people of the town meet and interact. and Royton plans) we are proposing the In places the quality of Oldham’s public realm is already very good, creation of compact, walkable neighbour- however, in some of the urban parts of the borough a degraded public hoods with an increase in housing density. realm is one factor in undermining the civic life of the borough. This contrasts with a view held by some that Housing Market Renewal areas Oldham has some exceptionally good structure of Oldham. We have explored a need to be reduced in density to create public realm including countryside, villages ‘cross section’ through the borough from larger homes with gardens. Suburban hous- and small towns particularly to the east. the heart of the town centre to the moors. ing is indeed under-represented in Oldham However, the urban areas in the west of the This has been used to analyse the character and we believe that there is scope to reduce borough do not have easy access to these of the whole borough and to identify its densities in HMR areas away from transport areas. In these western areas there is a gen- problems. These lie in the urban areas and nodes. The Oldham Beyond Urban Design eral neglect of public space. An important particularly in the mill neighbourhoods. report includes examples of how this thin- first step must therefore be a campaign ning might take place. to clean up the borough similar to the Smart communities Barcelona Posa’t Guapa (Barcelona ‘Make We have therefore developed a planning yourself beautiful’) campaign that started strategy based around the transformation the city’s regeneration. Manchester’s ‘100 of these neighbourhoods. The aim is not to days to clean up the city’ has recently done grow the population, but to redistribute de- something similar. This needs to be linked velopment to broaden the range of housing to a review of council cleansing services. and neighbourhoods We have called this a This should be the start of a ‘Smart Communities Plan’. It would involve strategy to renew the public realm and urban the consolidation of existing town centres

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Royton Town Centre Royton is doing much better than many similar town centres in north Manchester with One of Oldham’s strengths is its varied town cen- similar catchment areas. These have lost out tres. We have looked at Royton as typical of these to their larger neighbours and are in serious centres. It is built on a crossroads with a range decline. Royton by contrast is thriving with of shopping, anchored by a supermarket, a suc- few vacancies, good footfall and a successful cessful market plus a range of civic institutions market. The reason is that in Royton people - church, community centre and town hall as well unlike those elsewhere shop often locally rather as banks, pubs and an Italian Restaurant. than going into Oldham or Manchester. The masterplan therefore does not suggest Review of cleansing services: A review major changes to Royton. The key proposals of the organisation of street cleansing are to improve the public realm of the precinct; services (now underway). to consolidate the centre with new housing Wardens: The wider use of wardens in the development on underdeveloped landscape smaller towns to assist with cleansing and areas; to create a Common Ground landmark maintenance. in the heart of the town, and to light and make more efficient use of the mills that surround and Smart Communities Planning: dominate the centre. Aim: A review of the Local Plan to create a clear planning framework for the borough: Work will soon commence on a improvements along the main roads through Ped-Shed development: The develop- ment of compact walkable communi- new borough plan based on the framework the borough including the boulevarding of ties around high accessibility locations in the Planning Bill. This should create a the A62 and Oldham Way to create a web. (Werneth/Freehold demonstrator plan). spatial framework for the above strategy with These lines could also be symbolic with Town centres: The consolidation of exist- Action Plans for areas of change. It would maps highlighting the projects as a visitor ing town centres with new housing (see also include planning guidance to promote attraction to illustrate the links within the Royton demonstrator plan). and reinforce the character of each part of borough. Thinning out: The planned reduction in densities of the HMR areas away from the Cross Section. transport corridors and town centres. Supplementary Planning Guidance: Regeneration web Policies to increase the quality of develop- To turn the public realm of the borough ment based on the Cross Section. into a positive and unifying force we have adopted a technique called ‘point and line’, Regeneration Web Aim: To create a borough-wide initiative that also developed in Barcelona. This involves can change internal and external perceptions: a range of small, high-profile projects Network of public spaces: The identifica- (points) in public spaces at the heart of tion of public meeting spaces in the heart communities across the borough. These Country to town of each community. In mill communities could include anything from a bandstand to Aim: To make better links between the urban this could be within a refurbished mill. and rural parts of the borough. market stalls, sculpture or even public toilet. Point markers: A budget of £50,000 to Green walk: A route from Oldham Edge to create a public work to mark this space. To Their prominence would come because Alexandra Park linking the countryside to be commissioned with the Area Committee. they would be commissioned by a range of the heart of Oldham. Town Square: The creation of Town Square international and local designers all judged in Oldham as the heart of this system. by the same high standards. At the heart of Clean up campaign Corridor improvements: Improvements this web would be the new Town Square in Aim: To bring about a lasting transformation along the routes through the borough. in the cleanliness of the public realm. Oldham Town Centre. The next step is to join Interpretation: Leaflets and displays to Campaign: A clean-up campaign to promote the Regeneration Web. these points together (lines) with corridor engage the public and schools

- 24 - - 25 - The proposed surface-level crossing from across Oldham way to the newly opened Sainsburys

Oldham Beyond - A vision for the Borough of Oldham - 10rd March 2004

Oldham Beyond - A Vision for the Borough of Oldham - April16th March2004 2004

New Oldham ough. For its part the Council must therefore Boroughs like Oldham operate in an intensely competitive environment have the courage to go further in opening to capture business, to access government resources, and to attract itself up to greater scrutiny and to sharing and keep talent. To succeed, Oldham must rebuild its economy and its power and responsibility. The Borough of physical infrastructure - but this alone is not enough. Successful places Oldham will only thrive from the bottom up also cultivate their soft infrastructure, by which we mean the way the through people’s pride and hope in their borough is governed, how it engages with its citizens and how it har- neighbourhoods and towns and their capac- nesses the energy of all of its people and organisations. ity to bring about change.

Successful places mobilise ideas and These factors have not been given enough Active citizenship talents, retain gifted young people, improve attention in Oldham in the past, something Part of Oldham’s problems is a weakness their connections both internally and exter- that contributed to the 2001 disturbances. in civic society that stretches back to the nally and raise the aspirations and expecta- Leaving it to ‘them’ (be it the mill or the town’s origins. The New Oldham agenda tions of local people. Places dominated by Council) to solve a problem or take the must therefore be driven by all parts of the internal squabbles, with an alienated popu- blame is an Oldham disease that must be community. The voluntary and faith sectors lace or an inability to get things done could, cured. The revival of Oldham must begin must become more confident and effective in the future, simply be left behind. Oldham with active citizens and empowered com- throughout the borough in delivering im- (and here we mean the whole borough, not munities who are prepared to take respon- provements to quality of life. They are best just the Council) therefore needs: sibility. placed to act as ambassadors, intermediar- The Council must actively enable ies and interpreters to develop intercultural A clear mission this to happen and, whilst there is still work understanding and co-operation. They A sense of common identity to be done, we see a genuine effort being should also have a role in providing services An open organisational culture made to address the criticisms of its past and contributing to the generation of wealth Effective decision-making performance and culture. It is certainly in in the borough. This is even more the case Strong leadership from the top, and no-one’s interest for the Council to remain for the private sector, which, for too long, Active engagement from below. the ‘whipping boy’ for the ills of the bor- has been the empty seat at the table in

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Oldham Athletic Football Club success of the team but also relates to the qual- ity of the ground and the revenue that the ground Oldham Athletic have recently been bought by is able to generate. The proposals to develop the new owners who want to invest in the club by Latics is therefore potentially an important part improving facilities and expanding the range of of Oldham’s regeneration. uses around the ground. The success of football In the past schemes for retail development clubs such as Premiership Blackburn and Bolton on the playing fields to the west of the ground has been hugely important in the confidence and have been rejected and this land now has image of these towns. This is partly about the protected status. The masterplan proposal is to develop the sites to the east and west of the ground to include a range of business and confer- ence uses integrated with the redevelopment of the north stand. This could also include a hotel and accommodation for nurses. This would be made possible by a new road connection along School twinning: Broadening of the Furtherwood Road to Chadderton Way. The area programme and extension to secondary to the north of the ground would be retained for schools. parking and the scheme would include investment Interfaith Tours: Exchange visits between in the playing fields to create a park area. religious venues in the borough.

Oldham. There may have been good reasons and confident cultural communities - aware Civic society Aim: To build a partnership of active citizens to stay away in the past but the people who of what makes them special and distinct and organisations committed to the borough: create wealth and jobs in the borough must but proud of what they share as Oldhamers. Oldham United: Extend this important take the opportunity of the new economic Oldham’s diversity will become one its key private sector initiative for social responsi- partnership to become engaged in the competitive assets and the source of the bility. governance of the borough. innovation on which its economic success New leaders programme: Training and must rely. mentoring to nurture a generation of leaders from every community in the borough. Cultural identity Many places not just one The LSP: It is important to establish Central to the New Oldham agenda is the Aim: To emphasise the distinctive character cultural and private sector partnerships on cultural identity of its people. These identi- of each part of the borough: the LSP. This is underway. ties relate to their origins, whether in Shaw, More power to the local: The further Partnership working: Such as the cultural Failsworth or Delph, Pakistan, Bangladesh devolution of power (other than planning) to groups that have started to meet during the or the Caribbean. People are different and Area Committees and making their activities course of the study. more relevant to local people. Taking government to the people have a right to expect that their differences Distinctiveness: The creation of local Innovative electronic techniques for public will be respected and celebrated and there identities through the regeneration web and involvement. will be no mileage in trying to build the New common ground proposals. Oldham on uniformity. But all communities New Oldham must define themselves positively; not only Many voices not just one: Aim: To transform the image of the borough by what distinguishes them but also by the Aim: To promote self-confident, proud com- to its people and the outside world: munities in all parts of the borough: Oldham Athletic: The regeneration of the common attributes they share with others. Inter-cultural festivals: Existing and new ground as part of Latic’s importance to the This is a new way of working which we call inter-cultural celebrations . image and pride of the town. Interculturalism. It is important because it Intercultural funding: Making collabora- Town centres: The promotion of town encourages both Integration and Choice. It tive working between groups a condition of centres as shop windows for the Borough is the key to unlocking pride and confidence funding where appropriate. and community hubs. in all of Oldham’s communities. In 10 to 20 Go and see grants: Funding for visits Reimaging the borough: A five-year to communities elsewhere in the UK and campaign to change the image of Oldham years Oldham should be a place of diverse abroad. to its own people and to the outside world.

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The development of a vision for a place as large and diverse as Oldham strategy required to achieve this vision is is a huge task. The outside world’s view of Oldham may be a working inevitably complex, because it reflects the class town of terraces and racial tension. This, however, does not do complexity and diversity of the borough. We justice to the town of Oldham let alone the borough as a whole. The have tried to set out this strategy in a con- town is a place of strong independent neighbourhoods and tight-knit cise and readable form. The 40 pages of this communities. Its problems are, in many respects, the flip side of its report could so easily have been 400 and we strengths. The borough is a place of even greater contrasts, of success- have inevitably been unable to include the ful market towns, idyllic rural villages and mill communities set within detail of all of our research and propos- the foothills of the Pennines. als. This report should therefore be read in As with all places that grew up in the Indus- time Oldham has turned a corner and there conjunction with the three demonstrator trial Revolution, Oldham has had to change. is a new sense of common purpose and masterplan reports: Werneth/Freehold, The In may respects it has done this very suc- commitment in the borough. The commis- Heart of Oldham which looks at the town cessfully by diversifying its economy, im- sioning of this report is evidence of this new centre and The Oldham Net, which includes proving the educational qualifications of its resolve. a range of smaller masterplans. There is also people and investing in cultural institutions. We have found many of the a series of background papers produced However, there remain some deep-seated 2,000 or so people that we have spoken by the consultancy team that provide more problems that must be addressed. These to, prepared to admit past mistakes, but background and detail. include the declining state of the terraced committed to looking to the future. We have This report contains 82 propos- housing that dominates the borough, the low sought to reflect these feelings in this report als grouped into six themes. Many of these skill, low wage economy, the loss of talented by being honest about Oldham’s problems proposals are about getting the basics people and the underperformance of Oldham but emphasising the positive and looking to right. Important as these are they will not town centre. These are problems that affect the future. bring about lasting change in the borough. many northern towns. However, there are The vision that we have described, There are another set of proposals relating two issues that set Oldham apart: The first is of a self-confident community, at ease to issues like social cohesion, education, a breakdown of understanding and trust be- with itself and celebrating its diversity and housing, creativity and the economy. These tween different communities on racial lines prosperity, is within Oldham’s grasp. The are the bedrock of our strategy. and the resulting residential segregation of different ethnic groups. The second is a loss of self-confidence and pride in the borough and its future. These are not problems that can be solved overnight, and Oldham’s nadir came in May 2001 when rioting broke out in parts of the borough. However, since that

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Beyond this there is a further set companies into the borough and improving ham’s Housing Market Renewal bid will fund of proposals relating to ambitious projects the image of Oldham and the confidence of the Werneth/Freehold proposal. Design work such as turning Featherstall Road into a its people. This self-confidence will remove has been commissioned by Catalyst to ex- Asian Bazaar, converting the vacant Robert many of the causes of racial tension and tend the shopping centre. The Chronicle in- Fletcher mill in Greenfield into an outdoor over time the racial diversity of Oldham tends to proceed with the first development pursuits centre, illuminating the mills of will become one of its attractions. This will in the Rhodes Bank Creative Quarter and the borough, building striking business persuade more people to stay, to shop in the plans an interior design company to convert quarters at Hollinwood and Mumps, creating town centre and to set up businesses in the the Old Bank in Mumps. The Latics have a landmark new building for the Coliseum borough, reinforcing the virtuous circle. recently announced plans to redevelop their and Peskar productions and redeveloping the This is an achievable strategy and ground and both the Roxy and the Coliseum Latics stadium. These and many other pro- the proposals that we have set out have the are commissioning feasibility work into new posals are intentionally ambitious and may potential to achieve the vision within a 10- buildings in the new West End of the town grab the headlines. They are all possible, 15 year timescale. The strategy must engage centre. We are also hopeful that positive however some may not happen and others and energise all of the people and organisa- decisions will soon be made on Metrolink will change and evolve over time. This is not tions of the borough – including the private and the University College. Together these a problem – with imagination goes risk. If sector, voluntary groups, faith organisations early wins represent a tremendous start to only a proportion of these projects happen, and cultural sector. The first stage is there- the Oldham Beyond process. We believe that they will have a dramatic and symbolic fore to consult on this strategy and to use it this strategy has the potential to build on effect on the confidence and the image of as a basis for an ongoing dialogue with the this and to make Oldham into a 21st century the borough. They must, however, be seen many and varied peoples of the borough. success story. as symbols of the wider and deeper change While this is happening there is that is taking place in the borough. a need for an implementation plan which Together these proposals are sets out a path to take forward each of the designed to create a virtuous circle of proposals that we have made. This we renaissance in Oldham. This is based on have done as part of the study and will be the borough becoming a better place to live published alongside this report. In this im- (liveability) and a place where people can plementation plan we set out the priority of make a good living (wealth creation). This each proposal, timescales, critical path, cost means that when the education system and and grant requirements, who is responsible new University College succeeds in improv- and what are the first steps. ing the qualifications of Oldham people they We are, however, greatly encour- will choose to stay in the borough and to aged by the progress already being made. become engaged in its social and civic life. Many of the recommendations that we have This in turn will make the borough a better made are already well on their way to being place to do business, attracting people and realised. For instance, the approval of Old-

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Appendix 1

The Oldham Beyond process has employed a range of techniques to consult with the people of the borough. In total we estimate that more than 2,000 people have been involved in discussions as part of the study giving us an excellent insight into the views of people from across the borough.

The consultations have included the Focus groups Oldham Satellite, an inflatable room that A series of nine focus groups have been toured the borough in Autumn 2003. Other held to delve deeper into these views and techniques included 8 focus groups, a to engage under-represented. These also postcard campaign, a workshop which at- explored people’s attitudes to the borough tracted 110 people, work with 12 schools, and found: presentations to each of the area commit- tees and a series of sector working groups. Many people felt that they would stay The findings of this work along with a range in Oldham but felt that their children of individual discussions are described The things that people liked related to a would have to leave to realise their full below: sense of community, local town centres, potential. links to the countryside and (in some The Oldham Satellite areas) community facilities. People were proud of their neighbour- The most high-profile consultation method hood but ‘faintly embarrassed’ to say that we used was the inflatable Oldham Sat- The main problems were anti-social that they come from Oldham for fear of ellite or ‘Thought Bubble’ that toured eleven behaviour, the poor state of the local being branded a racist. venues the across the borough. This was environment and a lack of things to do visited by more than 700 people who were for young people. There was also an The Asian participants were more likely asked about what they like and dislike about alienation from institutions such as the to be proud of Oldham and more com- their neighbourhoods and their hopes for the Police and the Council and concerns mited to staying in the borough. future. The main themes that emerged were: about racial tensions. People from all communities believe Across the borough there is a strong Looking to the future there was a real that racial tensions are holding Oldham sense of belonging to local neighbour- desire for Oldham to succeed as a back. They believe that more should be hoods but a much weaker sense of place where people can live together in done to build awareness and respect for connection to Oldham Borough. harmony and achieve their full potential. all cultures (including that of the white

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community). It was stressed by the Wealth creation: suggestions Schools Asian participants that this should mean included a more positive multi-cultural The consultation included ten primary integration rather than assimilation. image, cultural industries, environ- schools and two secondary schools who mental industries as a growth sector, were asked to complete a photographic There remains a feeling that funding support for entrepreneurs, a more stra- project to look at their local area in terms is allocated to different communities tegic approach to industrial sites and of what was good, bad and what could be unfairly. business premises and better transport improved. The secondary schools carried and parking. out an environmental audit in the town cen- There was a positive response to the tre, together with classroom discussion and idea of an influx of more affluent people Leadership and governance: It was also attended the town centre workshop. to the borough. suggested that Oldhamers should take more responsibility and stop blaming Conclusions Round Table Workshop the council and ‘others’ for problems. Many of the issues raised through issues are A workshop was held at Gallery Oldham in There was a need to grow more active not unique to Oldham. What was different September 2003. This attracted 110 people citizens and to devolve more decision- were the concerns expressed about com- and explored a vision for the borough making. munity cohesion and a feeling of alienation through five themes: in elements of the white community. What Identity and distinctiveness: It was was also striking was the hostility felt by Liveability: suggestions included agreed that renewed civic pride must many people towards the council. This is not events and activities to give positive be based on thriving town centres, a directed at the current administration but expression to Oldham’s different com- solution for the old town hall, per- at the very notion of an Oldham Borough as munities, improved access to cultur- forming arts venues, an Asian bazaar, conceived in the 1974 reorganisation. ally mixed schools, youth facilities, revived mills and a positive telling of sustainable housing, safer car parking, Oldham’s history. better access to the countryside.

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Appendix 2

The next question is how is Oldham doing today. This has been as- A working class population sessed by the Oldham Beyond team through a series of studies looking The 2001 Census paints a picture of a at the social, economic, cultural and environmental performance of the predominantly working class population. A borough. One of these, the Urban Renaissance Audit, looked at Old- relatively high proportion (64.8%) of peo- ham’s performance with reference to boroughs such as Halifax, Bury, ple in the borough are economically active Barnsley, St. Helens and Warrington that are of similar size and that which is higher than the Northwest average have similar historical trajectories. of 63.9%. The proportion of people in employment is 41.5% and the unemploy- The people of the Borough Ethnicity ment rate just 3.6% which is in line with The Borough of Oldham has a relatively the regional average and not far behind the Oldham’s population is currently stable. In small Asian community. People of Asian national average. 2001 the borough had 217,300 inhabitants, origin make up just 12% of the borough’s However, while many people making it one of the fifty most populace population today, which is considerably in the borough are in work, wage and boroughs in England. The population of the less than towns like Leicester (36%) or skill levels are very low. Average gross town of Oldham was 103,900, a substantial Bradford (22%). However, this community weekly earnings in 2001 were just £297 in figure that places it above Warrington, has grown from 8.7% in 1991 and is pro- Oldham, £50 less than the national aver- Halifax and Wakefield. The borough’s jected to be 18% in the next few years. The age and more than £70 less than Halifax. population fell slightly (by 0.6%) between Asian community is predominantly Muslim 37.7% of people in Oldham have no quali- 1991 and 2001. In an area with a relatively with the largest groups being Mirpuri fications compared to 29.2% in Bury. In low house-building rate, this is a natural Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. It is also over- the 1997 Labour Force survey, only 11.5% rate of decline resulting from declining whelmingly concentrated in certain neigh- of people in Oldham had NVQ4 qualifica- household size. It means that Oldham has bourhoods – the non-white community tions or above which was half the figure in not experienced the type of depopulation makes up 58% of the Werneth ward, 56% Manchester, and 4.2% less than Rochdale. that has been seen in other areas such as of Coldhurst, 41% of St. Mary’s, 30% of The distribution of ethnic East Manchester. Alexandra (including Glodwick) and 27% minorities in the borough 2001: dark red (30%+); These overall figures mask of St. Paul’s. The Oldham Independent red (10-30%); orange (5-10%); dark yellow internal change with the demographic Review suggested that Oldham is (2.5-5%); light yel- expansion in the more affluent eastern the one of the most racially low (0-2.5%) parts of the borough and contraction in the segregated towns in the UK west. Indeed the National Statistical Office and that this is both a is predicting a fall of 1.3% in population symptom and a cause between 1996 and 2006. While this is not of the tensions in the catastrophic there is a need to retain the town. population of the borough by making it attractive as a place to live.

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This is also reflected in the figures for national average but that the performance Form College. When this was established professionals which make up just 21.1% of of schools while still below the national in 1992 it was suggested that there were the Oldham population compared to 27.7% average is improving and is comparable not enough potential sixth formers in in Bury and 30% in Warrington. with similar authorities. Between 1998 Oldham to make it worthwhile. It now has The borough also has a young and 2000 Oldham achieved the 7th best 2,000 students and has recently been population with the lowest proportion of improvement in the UK at Key Stage 2 in rated1 in the top 10% in a value added pensioners (16.8%) of any of the boroughs English and the proportion achieving 5+ assessment of 98 sixth form centres across that we have looked at. In the town of A-C Grades at GCSE rose from 39.9% to the UK and in many subjects is in the top Oldham there are high proportions of young 42.4%. At Bluecoat School the figure is 25% in terms of overall results making it people, especially in the Asian community. 80% which puts it in the top 50 compre- comparable to some of the best institutions Like ethnicity, all of these figures hensive schools in the UK. in the UK. are an average of a borough that has within One of the great educational suc- 1. Research by Dr. Kevin Conway former principles of it huge variety as illustrated by the Mosaic cesses in the borough has been the Sixth Greenhead College in Huddersfield Plan from Experian. The Saddleworth villages have developed into affluent com- muter settlements and parts of Royton, Shaw and Chadderton are also relatively affluent. The borough’s problems are there- fore disproportionately concentrated in the town of Oldham. In certain wards, such as Werneth, for example, unemployment rises to 11% and in the Pakistani and Bangla- deshi communities it is as high as 25%.

Education In Oldham a high proportion of people have left school with no qualifications because historically they were not needed. This is changing as the 2001 Inspec- tion illustrated. This showed that pupils entering Oldham schools are below the

A Mosaic plan of Greater Manchester prepared by Experian. The blue colours are suburban middle-classes, the red are council tenants, the yellow working class owners and the green ‘stylish singles’

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Areas of weak house prices: Light blue - 25% of all transactions below £30,000, dark blue 25% of transactions below £20,000

Liveability Housing Despite past criticisms by the Audit The Renaissance audit also looked at a The housing market of Oldham has been Commission, Oldham has in fact range of liveability issues in Oldham. These analysed as part of our work on the scored reasonably well for its service included: Werneth/Freehold masterplan (see Housing provision which is what affects live- Working Paper). Average house prices in ability. Oldham (£45,000) are about three quarters The crime rates in Oldham are above the national average. There are more the average of Greater Manchester. How- However, the Audit Commission did violent crimes per thousand people ever, detached and semi-detached property find that only 18% of streets in Oldham than any of the other towns and high and even flats in Oldham are less than 10% had a high level of cleanliness com- instances of car crime and burglaries below the regional average. The issue lies pared to 61% in Wakefield and almost (although burglaries have recently been with the terraced stock that makes up 65% 90% in Bury. of the borough’s housing. The average reduced significantly). price of a terrace in Oldham is £32,950 The Bartlett School of Planning has The town centre is analysed in detail in which is around £10,000 less than the ranked UK urban centres by the facili- the Town Centre masterplan. It is ranked regional average. ties that they are able to offer. Oldham 161st nationally in 2002 more than 100 Again, this masks internal con- has 14 of the 20 facilities that they use places behind Bolton and 11 places trasts. In a substantial part of inner Oldham which puts it on a par with Hudders- behind Rochdale. The centre is however in 2001, a quarter of house sales were field and Bolton and a long way ahead improving its ranking and has enormous below £30,000 (light blue areas) and be- of St. Helens that has just 8. low £20,000 (dark blue). Parts of Oldham’s potential and the borough also benefits housing market are weak but this has been from a range of strong smaller centres. For further details see the Oldham Beyond Renais- sance Audit by URBED. true for some time. Recently house prices have risen in line with national trends. In- deed detached and semi-detached property has outperformed the national trend and even terraces rose by 18% in the year to 2003. Oldham has not therefore experi- enced housing market collapse like in East Manchester. It is, however, important to address housing market weakness in the borough and particularly low demand for terraced property.

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Appendix 3

A review of the economy of the borough has been undertaken by King Sturge as part of the Oldham Beyond study. This has included a review of key economic indicators and of the property market for the borough, and discussions with a range of leading employers.

Oldham has traditionally been a low wage, storage and distribution. Littlewoods remain low skill economy. Its foundation was textile significant employers despite the recent sale spinning and textile machinery. This industry of a number of their mills. had all but disappeared by the early 1980s. Oldham has therefore been suc- This has given Oldham time to adjust com- cessful in restructuring its economy and of its wards score on the top quartile of the pared to towns like Barnsley and Stoke that maintaining levels of employment. There are Urban Competitiveness Index and parts of have lost their traditional industries more around 90,000 people working in Oldham, the borough are eligible for UK and EU fund- recently and suddenly. of which a large proportion (62,000) live ing. While it currently lacks strategic sites Part of the adjustment has been to in Oldham too and almost 20,000 people it is within easy reach of four of the region’s diversify the borough’s manufacturing base commute into Oldham to work. However, the main employment locations; Kingsway which still accounts for 23% of employment economy of the borough remains vulner- in Rochdale, Ashton Moss and Waterside compared to 15% nationally. Manufacturers able. Some of its employment sectors such Park in Tameside and Manchester’s Central include Zetex, Ferranti and Salton alongside as textiles, dyeing, paper, chemicals and Business Park. It is important that Oldham smaller high-tech firms such as Digital fabricated metals are predicted to decline. residents can access jobs at these locations Projection one of the leading manufacturers It does have strengths in growth sectors but the borough must also create its own of digital projection equipment. However, such as food, publishing and electrical and sites for inward investment with a differenti- overall, manufacturing continues to decline medical equipment. However, the activity in ated offer. in the borough and between 1995 and 2000 Oldham is not necessarly at the value end of The borough cannot, however, rely employment in the sector fell by 15%. these sectors. The strength in publishing, for on inward investment and must grow its own Despite this, overall employment example is mostly in newspaper printing. employment. Currently, Oldham has a rela- in the borough increased by 3% over this Oldham has a concentration of tively low rate of new business registrations. period due to a 23% growth in construction employment in business sectors forecast The Business School is however working to and a 10% increase in services. Many of the to decline in employment terms nationally, address this and has created incubator busi- 130 mills that remain have been reused for many of which also require few skills and ness units to encourage graduates to start pay low wages. It is therefore important businesses in the borough. There is also to continue to diversify the economy to potential in the creative industries drawing consolidate the successes that the borough on the strength of the college in these areas. has achieved in the recent past. For further details see The Oldham Beyond Economy One option is inward investment. Working Paper by King Sturge. Here Oldham has many advantages - five

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Appendix 4

Comedia have explored the cultural life of Oldham as part of the study, from the development of arts and sporting activity from the late nine- teenth century, through to the current cultural activities and instututions in the borough.

Cultural institutions The most important independent The Council operates 14 libraries and there arts organisations are the Coliseum and are advanced plans to move the Central Peshkar Productions. The Coliseum has a Library from its current site to a new £22 regional reputation but needs to relocate to a million Lifelong Learning Centre in the new venue. Peshkar Productions is a theatre Media Cultural Quarter expected to open in 2006. company that tours nationally. The organisa- Oldham has one of the few remaining inde- This is Phase 2 of a four-phase programme tions have been collaborating on a feasibility pendent local newspapers. The Chronicle for the Cultural Quarter – the first phase study for a new venue. The local authority founded in 1854, has charted the course of being the completion in February 2002 also runs the Oldham Theatre Workshop and Oldham’s development and has become as of Gallery Oldham. Phase 3 will see the the Oldham Music Service both with a very much a part of the story as a recorder of it. building vacated by the library converted to strong track record. There are a further 170 a museum and the proposed fourth phase groups in the borough ranging from the Sad- Sport includes a new mid-scale venue for the dleworth Handbell Ringers and Delph Band Oldham Rugby League Club was set up in performing arts to house the Coliseum, the to the Glodwick West Indian Association and 1876 and Oldham Athletic Football Club in Theatre Workshop and the Lyceum. Fatima Women’s Association. 1907. The Latics achieved success under The largest space in the town cen- Joe Royle in the early 1990s appearing at tre is the 1500-seat Queen Elizabeth Hall. Events Wembley and gaining promotion to the First This lost some trade to the more specialised As a working class town Oldham has Division. The club has new owners who are performance venues at the Bridgewater Hall always had a lively cultural life from the looking to improve its ground There are a and the Lowry Centre. It has been moth- bawdy Wakes holidays of the nineteenth range of sporting facilities in the borough, balled and the council is reviewing plans for century to the more recent Carnival and including swimming pools, sports centres its future. The College campus was started Oldham Mela. There are a range of events and synthetic pitches run by Oldham Com- in 1968 and includes the Grange Arts Centre in the borough such as the William Walton munity Leisure Ltd. This has been linking now principally used by the performing arts Festival, the Saddleworth Whit Friday Band new sports facilities with schools, such as and media courses. The Oldham Bangla- Contest and the August Rickshaw Derby. at Hathershaw Technology College, Breeze deshi Association Millennium Cultural Cen- Oldham’s main rock venue is The Castle Hill and Failsworth. Plans are currently being tre in Westwood is also a substantial venue which has plans for a community recording considered for a state-of-the-art leisure capable of hosting large events. However, studio. In 2003 Oldham hosted the national complex to replace the facility in the town the borough lacks a venue that can cater for Urban Music Conference and a Festival of centre. larger concerts and events. Diversity is planned for August 2004. For further details see the Oldham Beyond Cultural Report by Comedia.

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Appendix 5

WSP have undertaken an accessibility audit of the borough as part of the service. Frequency on key corridors is good study. This has looked at movement within the borough and its links from during the peak periods but evenings and a regional and national perspective. Transport in Oldham is potentially a weekends service levels fall dramatically key driver for the prosperity of the borough and its sub-areas. leaving large areas uncovered by public transport. While Oldham may be peripheral to the main Trans-Pennine route between Leeds Quality bus corridors are being North West, it is at the heart of the Trans- and Manchester is one of the key corridors created to Manchester, Rochdale and Ash- Pennine region encompassing Greater in Northern England. Oldham, however, has ton-Under-Lyne. Future routes are planned to Manchester, Merseyside and Yorkshire. This a low profile on this route its only station be- create an arc throigh north Manchester. Town is a key Trans-European Network route link- ing Greenfield which has only local services. centre bus services have been improved ing Ireland to Northern Europe. The other line is the North Manchester through the creation of the new bus station suburban network which stops in Middleton. in the north-west part of Oldham town Road access Oldham town centre is served by a loop from centre, and the second phase of this is to be The east/west connections are mainly by this line. This has seen a 18% reduction in implemented shortly to cover the stopping road via the M62. Oldham is also midway passengers from the 1997 peak although the points on West Street. between the two main north south motor- use of the Mumps Station has increased by ways, the M6 and M1. It is therefore within over 30%. Walking and Cycling safe and legal driving distances of a sig- The Oldham Loop will will be con- Walking and cycling opportunities within nificant part of the country. The opening of verted to Metrolink. Once this is complete, the borough are affected by topography. the M60 provides convenient access to the much of the Western part of the borough, WSP’s work has shown that key educational, conurbation including Manchester Airport. other than Royton, will be within a 20 minute shopping and employment functions are for It is also within easy reach of Liverpool and walk of a station. However, a relatively small the most part within walking distance (20 Leeds/Bradford Airports. area is within 800m of a station (normally minutes or less) of housing areas. The cycle While the A627M and the M60 considered to be the maximum walking network forms good linkages between loca- pass through the borough, Oldham has a distance). The situation is worse on the tions such as town centres and the Council fairly low profile on the Motorway network. eastern side of the borough. It will therefore has a detailed cycle strategy covering route In terms of trunk roads the primarily routes be important to consider park-and-ride and development and opportunities. radiate out of Oldham town centre. The interchange from bus to rail. exception to this is the A6052, which creates Car Parking an orbital corridor through Chadderton. Buses Oldham lacks a comprehensive car parking The borough is well served by bus routes. policy for the borough covering the needs Rail Most of the west of the borough is within of the town centre, district centres, park and Oldham has the poorest rail service of all 400m of a stop. The eastern side of the ride, public/private partnerships and pricing. of the Greater Manchester boroughs. There borough is, however, poorly served. The Parking in Oldham Town Centre is dealt with are two rail routes within the borough. The key issues relate to the level and quality of in the Town Centre Masterplan

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As part of the study URBED have undertaken an environmental/urban design assessment of the borough. The scale of the borough makes this a huge task and inevitably it has not been possible to examine the whole borough in detail. However, our aim has been to understand the physical Above: Oldham Township in 1831 Above left: Oldham in 1890 structure of the borough, the interplay between topography, settlement patterns and the historical development of the borough.

The structure of North Manchester which relates to Manchester through the spinning had not yet taken place but there independent industrial towns of Oldham, are 11 collieries. The 1890 plan illustrates Greater Manchester is a conurbation of 2.4 Royton, Shaw and Chadderton to the rural the dramatic growth of Oldham and Mumps million people which includes 2 cities, fringes of Saddleworth. We have therefore and the corridor into Manchester. It does, Manchester and Salford, 7 industrial towns used the cross section as a device to look however, show that Royton (and probably of 70-100 000 people and more than 40 at the character of the borough. Shaw although it is off the plan) have not smaller industrial towns of 20-40 000 grown at all. By this time Oldham had people. During the industrial revolution Historical Development become a densely built working class town Manchester grew to engulf Salford. The of terraces and mills. The poorest and most surrounding industrial towns also grew and The map above shows Oldham in 1831. densely packed housing was around the were linked to Manchester by ribbon devel- When Manchester was already a boom- fringes of Oldham Town centre such as the opment. The appearance was of one great ing city, Oldham was a small town in the site now occupied by the civic centre. city stretching for miles. However there Parish of Prestwich-cum-Oldham. Mumps remains large areas of countryside within at the time was a separate village and Urban structure the structure of this endless city. other small villages included Sholver and The conurbation has three bands: Werneth, however most of the borough was The plan opposite has been created by The city of Manchester lies broadly within rural and Crompton, Royton, Chadderton combining a series of plans prepared the M60 and is a city of around 1 million and Failsworth were separate townships as part of the urban design audit of the people. A band of satellite towns contains although contained only the hamlet of borough. Our goal was to understand the another million people including the larger Chadderton Fold. To the south east lay the current urban structure and form of the towns and smaller towns. The outer band separate parishes of Ashton-under-Lyne borough. includes the rural surrounds from the and Saddleworth. The figure ground plan shows pastures of the Cheshire Plain to uplands of The signs of industrialisation can just the buildings of the borough and lays the Pennines. Once rural backwaters, these already be seen with the Rochdale Canal bare the structure of the town. It illus- are now affluent commuter areas. to the west and the Failsworth Branch of trates that the western half of the borough The Borough of Oldham slices the Ashton Canal to the south. There are contains almost 90% of the buildings. through these three bands, from Failsworth no mills, because the mechanisation of The remainder are contained in the valleys would be distinct areas but in reality affect on urban form. This shows a strong they are very similar. They include pattern of radial routes emanating from containing Greenfield, Uppermill and Delph tightly packed terraces with a strong the centre of Oldham. Generally there are and the eastern quarter of the borough is urban form but lacking in open space. strong north south routes through the empty - because it is the high moors. The The Mill neighbourhoods are gathered borough but the east went links are poorer western part of the borough is relatively around mills and lack a focus now that mainly because of topography. dense, dominated by dense terraced prop- the mill is no longer a major employer. The topography (shown on the erty in a star shape with fingers of develop- Suburbs: There are relatively few plan above) is perhaps the greatest deter- ment stretching up the valleys and roads suburbs in Oldham. Many are 1930s minant of urban form. Oldham Town Centre converging on Oldham town centre. garden city suburbs especially in the is on a shelf on the edge of the Pennines The land use plan shows up the Chadderton area. overlooking the Cheshire Plain. The Sad- nine main town centres with retailing sur- Smaller town centres: These are dleworth settlements are in a separate rounded by mixed town centre uses. There smaller in scale than Oldham but also valley system and are in this sense cut off is a large amount of industry and com- have a sense of civic pride and gran- from the main part of the borough. mercial development and this is mixed with deur albeit on a smaller scale. The plan also shows the distribu- dense housing development. This reflects Villages: There are a number of very tion of mills and factories in the borough. It the historic structure of the terraced hous- attractive smaller villages especially in is clear that those in the east are based on ing around the mills. We have combined the east of the borough. water. However, most of the others seem these elements into a cross section of the random in their location because they were town (not shown on the above plan). This We have also looked at the road and rail accessed by road and often powered by includes seven types of development: networks in the borough in terms of its electricity.

Oldham town centre: which has a more urban and civic feel than any other part of the borough. The Town Centre Fringe: which is fractured with very poor urban form. Inner terrace and mill neighbour- hoods: Initially we believed that these Oldham Beyond has been commissioned by the Oldham Local Strategic Partnership in collaboration with the Northwest Development Agency.